Monday 29th January 2007

From MSC Napoli Response Centre

NAPOLI  

Pumping out is continuing well. A little over half of the oil is now pumped out from the Napoli. Salver have now moved from the tanks on the port side, and divers will be undertaking the difficult task of pumping from below the water line.

The crane barge that arrived on Friday afternoon is fitted with two large cranes. After conducting necessary assessments, the crane barge is now in position at the stern of the ship. A smaller 'shuttle' barge is already onsite. The first container has now been lifted.

The crane barge, described as 'Big Foot', will lift containers from the stern of the ship first and unload them onto the shuttle barge. The shuttle barge has maximum capacity for around 100 containers, stacked one container high. The shuttle barge will ship the containers back to a reception compound at Portland.

Pumping out of fuel and the removal of containers will continue simultaneously.

No new oil has come from the ship, although from the air, 3 patches of heavy oil are visible with a light sheen around the Napoli. These heavy oil patches are not new. French coastal authorities are involved and included in the maritime response and are represented at Salvage Control Unit in Weymouth.

The exclusion zone around the Napoli is still in operation and is being enforced at sea and in the air.

CONTAINERS

There have been no more containers lost from the ship.

OTHER

The public meeting in Branscombe on Saturday went well.

The Police have reduced their officer numbers on traffic points in Branscombe.

The one-way traffic management scheme through the village has been removed in response to the improved situation in the village. The road from the Mason's Arms to the beach remains closed, with access only to contractors and people with genuine reason for access.

The Coastguards who have been at Branscombe have been withdrawn, but Coastguard presence can be re-instated very quickly as required.

The Police and the MCA are confident of their ability to ensure beaches are secured immediately in the event of any containers washing ashore.

The western end of Branscombe beach has been re-opened to allow access for residents, following reassurances from the contractors that the beach has been thoroughly cleaned.

East Devon District Council has re-opened their car park at Beer Head.