MSC Napoli shows up cargo salvage flaws

By Janet Porter, Portland Thursday 3 May 2007

REMOVAL of containers from the beached MSC Napoli has exposed some flaws in the process as thousands of bottles of shampoo and other salvaged cargo pile up in the tiny Dorset port of Portland.

Robin Middleton, the Secretary of State’s Representative who has unique authority to supervise the response to maritime accidents in UK waters, will be recommending an extension of powers to cover cargo owners as well.

In an interview with Lloyd’s List which was given exclusive access to the huge clear-up work still under way, Mr Middleton said delays by shippers in arranging the removal or disposal of their goods was causing congestion in Portland, which has little space to handle so much unexpected cargo. In some cases, individual owners cannot be reached.

While sosrep has the authority to issue orders to shipowners, charterers, and port operators in the event of a shipping casualty, he does not have similar power over cargo interests.

The gap in the lines of responsibility has emerged as the process of lifting boxes off the 4,700 teu UK-flag ship approaches the final stages. By the end of April, just 207 of the original 2,318 containers were still on the ship.

These are waterlogged and could weigh up to 60 tonnes, so will be the most difficult to free. Nevertheless salvage firm Smit expects the remainder to be cut out within the next three or four weeks. After that, work will start on removing the vessel that is listing at around 8.5°.

The whole operation is thought to have cost well in excess of $30m so far.

The crew abandoned MSC Napoli when it started to fracture during a storm in January. The ship, owned by Zodiac Maritime, was then towed to Lyme Bay and deliberately grounded.

Although badly damaged, the vessel has not yet been declared a constructive total loss, but could be soon after an inspection by divers.

Smit has been awarded the contract to salvage the ship, and will attempt to refloat it next month once the last containers have been craned out of the hatches. However, there is no guarantee that the wreck can be refloated in one piece.

“No-one knows how much residual strength there is in the hull,” Smit senior salvage consultant Bert Kleijwegt told Lloyd’s List.

Even if the refloat is successful, salvors face another problem as the draught will be an estimated 19 m, too deep for MSC Napoli to be taken to anywhere in northern Europe, apart from a possible site in Norway.

One of the options being considered is to tow the ship to a suitable location where it can be sunk, said Zodiac operations director Paul Shields.

That remains a sensitive solution because of the UK’s sponsorship of the London Dumping Convention, but nevertheless may be permitted once guarantees are provided that all toxic materials have been removed and there is no risk to the environment.

Whatever the final decision about the future of the ship, Mr Shields expects MSC Napoli to have left Lyme Bay by the end of the summer. Salvors reckon it should be on its way by late June, “weather permitting.”

Containers and their contents are also being cleared as fast as possible by those working at Portland, but Mr Middleton is privately accusing some cargo owners of being less than co-operative.

One multinational with products onboard was insisting on the incineration of its cargo, with its own witnesses present. Mr Middleton had been waiting six weeks for the company to organise the disposal, but finally resolved the matter yesterday.

“Property owners are delaying the process,” he said.

Another shortcoming has been insufficient manifest information.