MSC Napoli Inquiry is Under Way

The MSC Napoli was deliberately beached in Lyme Bay in January 2007 after it was damaged in storms. The inquiry is considering whether the protected coastline should be a place of refuge for shipping in emergencies, the BBC reported. It is also looking at salvage and public disorder issues.

The Devon County Council-led inquiry has a dedicated webpage for online submissions during the initial evidence-gathering phase. Inquiry response packs will also be available to allow people to make submissions via the council's community roadshow vehicle at local events. The Napoli's hull was damaged in a Channel storm off the coast of Cornwall on January 18 last year when it was enroute from Antwerp to South Africa.

In the ensuing salvage operation nearly 4,000 tons of oil was pumped off the ship and more than 2,300 containers were removed. After underwater inspections revealed Napoli's hull was too badly damaged to refloat it, explosives were used to split in two. The container ship's bow section was then towed to a Belfast shipyard for scrap. Work to remove the stern section is expected to start in April. Source: BBC