CASE STUDY / MSC NAPOLI
Whilst en route from Belgium to Portugal in January 2007, severe gale force winds and huge waves caused serious damage to the hull of MSC Napoli, off the coast of The Lizard, Cornwall. Following deterioration in the weather the ship was beached in Branscombe, Devon, rather than let her sink in deep waters. The vessel was carrying 2,400 containers and 3,500 tonnes of fuel.
Ince & Co was instructed to act for salvors, who had been involved in the incident since the ship first ran into difficulties. The salvage operation was hampered by poor weather and the need to contain the threat of an oil spill. Efforts to refloat MSC Napoli were unsuccessful and the decision was taken to break the ship up on the beach. The ship was eventually split into two sections using explosives.
The overall cost of the salvage effort was estimated at some £50 million. The issues involved in the salvage operation were complex; salvors experienced difficulty breaking up the ship and removing the wreck from the beach.
The bow section of the vessel was finally towed from the beach in August 2008, with the stern section and remnants of the vessel removed in Summer 2009, some two years after the ship first ran into difficulty.