NAPOLI UPDATE -Friday am.

NAPOLI
Pumping out of oil is going well, and the latest news is that half the oil is already off. There is no change to the condition of the ship.

The two crane barges are due to arrive earlier than first anticipated, arriving mid-afternoon today, around 3pm.

The MCA's patrol boat will continue to enforce the 500m exclusion zone around the Napoli.

CONTAINERS
A sonar ship has been chartered from Brixham to locate the submerged containers.

The containers lifted off the Napoli will be taken by ship to a designated port, likely to be Portland.

ON SHORE
Lists of volunteers are being compiled by local authorities and coordinated by East Devon District Council in partnership with the National Trust. Volunteers will be contacted once access to the beach at Branscombe is given, after the contractors have removed the containers.

The local media are being asked to reinforce the message that visitors are still welcome to the area - a good view of the ship can be seen from Sidmouth - but that visitors should note the South West Coastal Path is closed between Branscombe and Beer, and other paths down to the beaches are closed. The public are requested to respect these closures.