NAPOLI UPDATE - Thursday 15 February 2007
From the MSC Napoli Response Centre

Seaward
The weather forecast for the next three days is good

The vessel remains stable and there has been no noticable change to its condition.

Oil removal is continuing. As of last night, there is approximately 75 tonnes of fuel still on board, the majority of which is diesel oil, with a small quantity of heavy fuel oil. Extra resources were deployed yesterday to hasten removal of this oil. Fuel oil is being skimmed from the surface of the water in the engine room. It's estimated that the layer of oil in the engine room is about 1/2 cm thick. Fuel oil is also being skimmed from the surface in the flooded Number 6 Hold.

The crane barge, Big Foot returned from Portland Port to come alongside the Napoli yesterday and successfully removed 20 more containers onto the shuttle barge, which then returned again to discharge at Portland Port. A new crane is assisting with the removal of containers from the shuttle barge at Portland Port, which will speed up that part of the operation. Big Foot has remained alongside the Napoli and is continuing to remove containers onto its deck. The shuttle barge is expected to return to site again later today.

The Napoli's owners plan to send a vessel to Portland Port to start removing the containers for onward travel.

No additional containers have been lost overboard.

Containers on the deck of the vessel are reported by the salvage team to be 'stable'.

An aerial survey has revealed a patch of light sheen some 4km south of the Napoli. A larger patch of oil off Abbotsbury has dispersed.

The sonar vessels were reemployed yesterday, but no reports of further 'sightings' so far.

Onshore
Poor weather recently continues to bring up debris onto the beaches.

Contractors have removed some globules of heavy oil found at Beer and Seaton, and oily flotsam found at Abbotsbury and Eype in Dorset. Vacuum packed ducks have also been removed.

Contractors have also been clearing the waste at Branscombe beach, and using an electro magnet to collect smaller pieces of steel off the beach.

The River Axe boom has been removed to allow free passage for fishing vessels.

The authorities remain on standby to activate contingency plans if required.