http://www.a2mediagroup.com/pdf.php?a=12406Was Msc Napoli Seaworthy And Fit To Fly The British Flag?
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is questioning the seaworthiness of
MSC Napoli, and whether it was fit to be British Registered after it ran onto a
coral reef in SE Asia at full speed in 2001?
The vessel had four months of repair in a Vietnamese shipyard and had over 3,000 tons of metal welded to it,
but was this sufficient?"If the vessel had been properly constructed and maintained it should not have suffered
structural defects despite the storm conditions last week so something has gone wrong in either the design,
repair or maintenance of this vessel" said Melissa Moore, Senior Policy Officer, Marine Conservation Society
"Most likely this is due to its previous damage which was either not properly repaired, or was so substantial
the vessel was irreparable." MCS is unsure how long the vessel has been registered in Britain but we question
whether the Classification Society inspected the vessel properly. While it may have looked superficially
sound, it seems surprising a surveyor would have found it fit for service. While no one claims these systems
are 100% effective, there are clearly some insufficiencies in our systems if such an incident was not
prevented? Yesterday, MSC Napoli was shored by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency3 near to Sidmouth in
Lyme Bay as the safest option after the vessel suffered serious structural failure and began to break up. Over
50 containers have been lost overboard as the vessel listed in heavy seas. The environmental implications of
the incident are four fold. Firstly, the pollution implications for marine life in Lyme Bay due to the loss of
fuel. A boom has been placed to contain loss of fuel and attempts are being made to remove 1500 tons of
bunker fuel today, but it is not clear how much is on board. Secondly, the pollution implications of the 158
containers that are listed as containing hazardous substances according to the International Maritime
Dangerous Goods Code, though most of these should hopefully be within the hold. These products consist of
industrial and agricultural chemicals (pesticides and insecticides). Thirdly, the hazard to shipping of the
containers that are lost overboard. And fourthly the marine litter implications of the items in the containers as
they break up. There are 2,394 containers on board and 50 have been lost overboard to date. "Shipping
incidents such as this need to serve as a reminder to the shipping industry, government and the IMO that
working together to advance the Clean Ship approach to shipping is vital" says Melissa Moore, Senior Policy
Officer at the Marine Conservation Society. The Clean Ship approach calls for the use of best available
technology to reduce emissions and increase streamlining. It also necessitates large margins of safety e.g.
vessels should be more structurally sound than it is anticipated that it will ever need to be, to reduce the
likelihood of incidents such as MSC Napoli. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is investigating this
incident as the vessel is registered within the UK. Questions the Marine Conservation Society would like the
MAIB to answer include: - Whether MSC Napoli was seaworthy - When the Maritime and Coastguard
Agency last inspected this vessel - What are the flaws in the classification society registration mechanism that
enabled such a vessel to be British registered. - Whether the British registry should be further reviewed to
prevent this type of incident. - Whether South West England has sufficient maritime salvage equipment to
prevent waiting days for equipment from the contracted salvors, Smit International from the Netherlands. -
Should UK harbours still charge less for containers stacked on deck than those in the hold? Often there is
room in the hold but higher port dues encourage containers to be stacked on deck. This makes loading and
unloading easier too, but at what environmental cost? - Are transponders now attached to containers, and if not
why not?
Following an inspection by salvors it has now been confirmed that the oil released from the beached 'MSC
Napoli' has come from the engine spaces at the time of beaching and that no fresh oil has been spotted in the
water. The sheen of used oils is now extending for about 3 to 4 miles before dissipating.
Following an aerial inspection from the Coastguard Helicopter 'Whiskey Bravo' earlier today it has also been
confirmed that the number of containers lost was 103 and not 200 as earlier suspected. The location of 76
containers of those 103 has now been identified.
A barge has also now been chartered in Rotterdam and is currently being fitted with two very large cranes
(500 and 400 ton)
The contents and stowage positions of 98% of the cargo manifest has now also been identified.
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Was Msc Napoli Seaworthy And Fit To Fly The British Flag?
The 'MSC Napoli' remains in stable condition and there has been no fundamental change to the structure. The
vessel continues to have a list of 25 degrees during high water reducing to 18 degrees during low water.
Hundreds of Containers Lost from MSC NapoliThe ship's owners have appointed a private security company
to guard the beached containers. The owners have also appointed a contractor to corral and remove
those spilled containers, and that contractor will mobilise to site later today and recovery will begin on
Tuesday.
Salvage equipment has been now been transferred onto the vessel so that pumping arrangements can be
configured at first light tomorrow morning.
During the day the salvors have been assessing the situation regarding the vessel and are still planning for the
recovery of the oils remaining onboard to begin tomorrow.
Over flights will also continue by MCA surveillance aircraft,
The River Axe and the River Brid have protection booms have been deployed and additional protective
equipment is being deployed to the likely affected sites.
Opportunists salvage BMW motorbikes from shipping containers washed up on the beach at Branscombe,
Devon, following the beaching of the cargo ship MSC Napoli. Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images
The MCA are also warning members of the public to stay away from any containers they see and that it is vital
to report any sightings to Portland Coastguard on 01305 760439. The BBC reported that that the ship had
previously ran aground off Singapore in 2001. Related News: Grave concerns over beached ship
