Napoli removal to start in May

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Work to remove the remaining section of MSC Napoli off the coast of Devon is set to start in May.

The ship was deliberately beached in Lyme Bay after it was damaged in storms while en-route to South Africa 14 months ago.

Explosives will be used to remove the propeller, the rudder, and to cut the propeller shaft.

The engine will then be removed. The whole operation is expected to take about five months.

'Preferable option'

In the ensuing £50m salvage operation, nearly 4,000 tonnes of oil was pumped off the ship and more than 2,300 containers removed.

Thousands of people descended on Branscombe beach to scavenge the contents of 50 containers which washed ashore.

The ship was later split in two by controlled explosions and the bow taken to Belfast.

Three controlled explosions split the Napoli in two

A Maritime and Coastguard agency spokesperson said; "The secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention has made the decision to cut up the remaining section and take it away in small pieces, rather than removing it in larger pieces, following analysis of all options available.

"The option to cut the remaining section into smaller pieces is preferable since there could be issues with anchoring and cutting through the main engine and propeller shafting if the stern were cut up into larger pieces."

A pollution control plan will be in place throughout the operation and once it is removed the material will be taken to Holland for recycling.

Once the work is complete a full underwater survey will be carried out to ensure that the seabed has been cleared of all recoverable debris from the vessel.