Harland and Wolff to scrap MSC Napoli bow

THE bow section of the stricken container ship MSC Napoli is to be towed away from Devon's World Heritage Coast for recycling with the tow commencing today or tomorrow.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the bow section would be towed by a tug to the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast over a period of about five days. The floating bow section of the grounded vessel is currently moored off Sidmouth, east Devon.

The stern of the vessel, which includes the accommodation section, is grounded on the seabed half a mile offshore from the resort. The MCA said contracts are now under discussion for the final removal of that part of a container ship. The salvage operation is estimated to have cost more than £50m (US$100m) so far.

The Napoli, deliberately grounded on January 20, was split in two by explosives last month to assist disposal, as her hull was too severely damaged to tow her away intact.

The vessel's hull was cracked in a channel storm off the south coast of Cornwall on January 18 when she was en route from Antwerp to South Africa. Her crew of 26 were airlifted to safety and the vessel was grounded because it was feared she could sink due to cracks in her hull.

The Napoli was refloated at one stage, but grounded again because of the extent of hull damage.