East Devon wreck clean-up hopes

THE removal of the remains of the MSC Napoli is weeks away, two years after the stricken container ship was grounded off the Devon coast.

A contract to remove the last section of the stern of the former 60,000-tonne vessel has been awarded to a newly-formed Dutch salvage company.

The Napoli was grounded off Branscombe on January 20, 2007, after it got into difficulties when it was damaged in storms off the Lizard.

For 24 months, a salvage operation has been under way which included blasting the ship apart.

The bow was towed to the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast and the remaining stern is being dismantled.

Global Response Maritime BV will now remove the final 3,800 tonnes of steelwork, much of which is submerged a mile offshore in Lyme Bay.

This involves cutting up the remaining aft section and the removal of the main engine, to be hauled away to Gravendeel in Holland for recycling.

Salvage boss Paul Glerum said: "This is an excellent launch-pad for the new venture."

Equipment required for the removal of the stern includes the crane barge Anna, which belongs to the sub-contractor Hapo International Barges; a pair of flat-top barges, 140 metres in length, which are equipped with huge cranes with tugs and also chain pullers.

The project involves drilling under the stern and the positioning of lifting chains to assist in the lifting operation. The stern will be lifted clear of the seabed, freeing the starboard bilge keel from the trench in which the stern is embedded.

Barges will recover the remains of the poop deck, rudder and propeller, which are already detached from the stern.

Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State's representative monitoring the operation, said: "From the outset, the firm has shown resolve and commitment to remove the bunkers, cargo and the wreck.

"This contract marks the final piece of the jigsaw and I look forward to a successful operation."

Branscombe residents are relieved the ship is finally to disappear, having caused a local drama which brought worldwide attention to the area.

Some of the 2,600 containers on board the vessel were washed ashore in January 2007, attracting wreckers to the village in search of booty including top of the range BMW motorbikes and vehicle parts including gearboxes.