Edgar wrote:
"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
Damaged ship leaking oil off British coast
Updated Sun. Jan. 21 2007 11:21 PM ET

Associated Press

LONDON -- A damaged ship grounded off the English coast leaked more
than 200 tons of oil, leaving a five-mile sheen on the surface of the
water and threatening the nearby coastline, officials said Sunday.

Salvage teams battled rough weather to try to secure the stricken ship
after containers of battery acid and other hazardous materials also
slipped off. But their efforts were hampered by gale force winds that
struck the English coast late Saturday.

The MSC Napoli was deliberately run aground in waters close to Sidmouth
in southwest England after it was damaged during a storm Thursday.
Helicopters rescued the 26 crew members in rough seas, 45 miles off
Lizard Point on England's southwest tip.

Britain's Department for Transport said more than 200 containers from
the ship, which was listing at a 30-degree angle, had slid into the
sea. Maritime and Coast Guard spokesman Paul Coley said two containers
contained hazardous materials -- including battery acid and perfume
products -- but they posed "minimal" risk.

BMW motorbikes, car parts and other goods also slid off the ship.

Some of the ship's approximately 3,000 tons of diesel and other fuel
had leaked out through a crack in the vessel's port side, said Robin
Middleton, the government's salvage adviser.

"About (220 tons) of oil has been lost," Coley said. But he added that
no major tanks were believed to have been breached.

Middleton told a news conference that salvage workers would attempt to
stabilize the ship to prevent it from capsizing, pump out the fuel and
remove the containers.

The 16-year-old vessel is registered in London and was last inspected
by the coast guard agency in May 2005, when officials said it met
safety standards.

Yes it is a sad picture on TV and there has been no information why such a
ship got into difficulties although the weather was very bad.


Seems she had a structural failure and was beached on purpose.

We have not
been told if it was engine failure or other damage but the containers on
deck are built up to the height of a house and (like many cruise ships) the
design of this vessel seems to ignore windage altogether and if something
puts her broadside on to a gale it is a recipe for trouble.

They are designed to be stacked over 80ft above deck Edgar.

The authorities
seemed to be trying to use the hazardous nature of just two of the 2300
containers to try and keep people away from the ones breaking up on the
beach but it has not worked and the local people know the law on salvage so
the police have to stand by and watch stuff being hauled away while they
hand out forms to be filled in and sent to the Receiver of Wrecks. Some
hope! Christmas has come early!

As it should be, if a ship can not control and keep it's cargo then it
becomes as hazard to mariners. The best way to get it cleaned up is to
give it to the finders. What the problem will be... and not a good
gift... is when a fiberglass boat slams into a mostly submerged
container way offshore. Happens all the time.

Good reason to keep an underwater camera aboard, if you strike a
container, get the ID number off the container and the shipper will
have to pay to fix any damage, if you don't sink and drown.

Joe