MSC Napoli - Now Afloat

[Woodentop]

The Container Ship MSC Napoli is afloat.

The vessel has been patched up, pumped out and floated. The ship is now at anchor about half a mile south of where she was beached.

Now what ?

The basic problem is that although the ship is now afloat and ready for the next phase Our Blessed Ministers have not come to a decision. I would have thought that some time after 21 January they would have realised that it would have to go somewhere. BUT we have heard nothing from the Department for Transport.

My guess is that the new ministers (as of last week) are all of of panic and don't know what to do.

Option 1 - Tow to a scrap yard. Problem; will it survive the tow? Will the yard accept it - i.e. will the gain on the scrap be more than the cost ? Will the owners pay good money to take it to a yard when they can just walk away and leave it ?

Option 2 - Take it to deep water and sink it. Probably the best environmental solution but very unfashionable ( However - see Brent Spar). Also international treaties may prevent a deep sea dumping.

Option 3 - Dismantle on site - dodgy, may make more mess (and expense) than intended.

Option 4 - ( The Politician Option) Do nothing. Then do what has to be done because nothing could be decided earlier.


I would go for 4. Because of delays in decision making and battles between various Enviro/political interests it will not be moved and have to be cut up ( or abandoned ) in Lyme Bay.

 

[Sixpence]

I heard that divers would be inspecting the hull before any final decision was made , a delay in re-floating was apparently timed to coincide with the forecast of relatively good weather that makes it safer to make an informed decision as to her final disposal

 

[TheBoatman]

My vote is option 2 ~ makes a good home for the fish.

Peter.

 

[burgundyben]

the envoronmentalists will tell you that they dont want all the ferrous onctent in the sea.

I believe in our rivers now they are cuting down on the use of steel piles and going for wood.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Although I am also very cynical I'm sure that there are firm plans in place. As already said there are divers inspecting the hull and once this is complete they will then decide which option to take.

Nothing political in that. Might go out and take a look myself today.

 

[Evadne]

The last thing we need is a minister deciding what to do. After all, if this were a conservative government it would be Boris Johnson calling the shots. As with all technical matters, the appointed experts (MCA?) will have come up with a plan, or plans with preferred options, and he will rubber stamp it. Whatever the outcome is, I'm sure there'll be more than enough ill-informed, desk-bound sniping on here to keep us all amused.

 

[Searush]

Sink it in shallow water in a depressed locality suitable to be turned into a diving center. Then it will provide economic regeneration around a sporting activity.

How about Blackpool to replace "lost casino contract" or Wirral/ Merseyside/ Deeside area to replace dying industry - or Middlesboro'/ Wear/ Tyneside for same reason.

 

[runswick2000]

[ QUOTE ]
Sink it in shallow water in a depressed locality suitable to be turned into a diving center. Then it will provide economic regeneration around a sporting activity.

[/ QUOTE ]

Certainly my preferred option, clean it, remove pollutants then save on the salvage and recovery operations by laying it to rest where it can be enjoyed by divers. Greenpeace don't like this option but there is a precedent (HMS Scylla I think it was off Plymouth?)

Of course I understand that I have none of the facts or expert knowledge to have a truly informed opinion.......it just seems to make common sense to do it this way!

John

 

[longjohnsilver]

Yes the Scylla is off Plymouth but it took the group years to obtain the necessary permissions to sink it.

I'd love them to sink ikt just a few miles away right in the middle of my favourite scallop diving area to stop the dredging [--word removed--] completely ruining the sea bed.

 

[Searush]

[ QUOTE ]
(cut)
I'd love them to sink ikt just a few miles away right in the middle of my favourite scallop diving area to stop the dredging [--word removed--] completely ruining the sea bed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I have seen pics of the sea floor dredged in Strangford Lough. A complete maritime desert. How many years does it take for such an area to recover afer an afternoon's "fishing"?
/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[Cornishman]

Funny that, I started a similar post, with the same subject heading, two days ago when Napoli first lifted off the sea bottom.
My understanding is that a ship breakers in Norway has accepted the job if she can make it that far. Another option is that she be towed to mid Atlantic and be sunk, but if she can get that far surely she can get to Norway?
It was known when she went aground that there was a severe crack in the hull just forward of the accommodation block and it has not been possible to survey it since she went aground. That is what the divers are looking at just now.
I don't think there is any point in discussing here what should be done without all the relevant facts which are not available to anyone yet.

 

[Emjaytoo]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think there is any point in discussing here what should be done without all the relevant facts which are not available to anyone yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, where's the harm in a bit of un-informed, idle speculation?

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh, where's the harm in a bit of un-informed, idle speculation?

[/ QUOTE ]
Especially if we can develop it into finger pointing .... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Habebty]

why not sink it and fill it with concrete somewhere that needs a breakwater?. Instant breakwater with office accomadation on top a la Mulberry Harbours /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif!!!

 

[Bajansailor]

Your suggestion is far too sensible, logical, practical and everything else, hence there is no way that the authorities will ever consider it!
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Malcb]

I took theswe pictures at the beginning of June when I was, as a memeber oif the Maritime Volunteer Service operating a guard boat at the napoli site.

It was fairly obvious that she had broken her back.

If you look at the line forward and aft of the forward end of the bridge, they are not in the same plane. The camera may have some distortion, but it was pretty obvious to the eye.

I hope the weather satys fair.

 

[Searush]

I hear Mr Brown wants to replace the containers that were on her with old caravans & use it as a prison ship . . .

 

[longjohnsilver]

Recovery depends on what was there in the first place, if lots of coral then years, but it will never happen cos if the area's been dredged once then it will be again and again, month after month.

When they bring in the summer dredging ban here in Devon then you can see the difference after a few months, but then after the 3 month ban has ended then all back to square one.