Wednesday 31st January 2007

From MSC Napoli Response Centre

SEAWARD

The weather forecast for the week remains good which will aid the recovery operation.

The pumping is continuing well and is maintaining a good speed (20 tonnes per hour).  Approximately 2,600 tonnes of oil has been removed from the ship in total.

The condition of the ship remains unchanged.  It has a 16 deg list at high tide and 13 deg list at low water.

There is no new oil from the ship.  A light sheen remains around the ship which will be visible until the ship is removed.

The operation to lift containers from the stern of the ship via Big Foot to a shuttle barge is continuing and good progress is being made.  Removing the containers from the stern will reduce the stress on the ship.  It is expected that the shuttle barge will make its first journey to Portland this evening, carrying in the region of 60 to 70 containers.  Big Foot will continue to lift containers onto its deck ready for the return of the shuttle barge.

Fishermen have been informed of the route that the shuttle barge will take to Portland to enable them to remove any fishing gear.

Aerial reconnaissance yesterday identified two of the sunken containers.  This information has been passed to salvage control.  Sonar vessels have identified three targets, which could be three individual containers or three blocks of multiple containers.  Divers will confirm.

SHORELINE

Contractors are making good progress from the secure compound at Branscombe.  Some containers have been removed by sea, others are being cut up and will be removed by land.

The South West Coast Path (SWCP) near Branscombe is open, as are spurs off, with the exception of Under Hooken which will remain diverted until the beach below is safe.  Spurs down to the closed part of the beach are also inaccessible.

House of Commons Hansard written answers for 30th January 2007

MSC Napoli

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the environmental damage to wildlife, reefs and fisheries following the beaching of the MSC Napoli. [112037]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 29 January 2007]: The Department and its agencies are leading the monitoring of flora, fauna, birds, fish and water quality.

I can confirm that the reports in the press of hundreds of dead fish are unfounded. None of the local authority personnel cleaning up the beaches, nor volunteers of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) picking up birds, have reported any dead fish. Neither have local fishermen. There is also no evidence that fish and shellfish have been seriously affected. Samples have, however, been taken to monitor the accumulation of any contaminants that may have been released.

About 700 birds have been collected by the RSPCA and the majority of these are alive.

Currently, a contractor has been brought in to take away the containers on the beach and the local authority has started cleaning up litter. After consultation with the Environment Agency (EA), arrangements have been put in place for the safe disposal of all waste from the beaches, including that contaminated with oil.

As for monitoring, water samples taken by the EA show no signs of pollution from the oil, pesticides, or other chemicals from the vessel. However, monitoring activity will continue on a regular basis for the foreseeable future.

Update from South West Tourism:

• With a few isolated exceptions, business remains generally good amongst the tourism industry in East Devon.
• Part of Branscombe beach is closed temporarily, however the village is open and it is business as usual for visitors.
• There are many volunteers that have signed up via the National Trust and Jurassic Coast to help with any clean up operation if and when needed.
• The South West Coast Path along the Jurassic Coast is open with three short alternative routes signed.