Stricken Napoli afloat once more

Last Modified: 09 Jul 2007
Source: ITN

A stricken container ship that ran aground off the Devon coast six months ago has been refloated.

A small amount of oil leaked from the ship during the two-hour operation, but it is dispersing naturally.

The Napoli was deliberately beached off the World Heritage Coast between Sidmouth and Branscombe after her hull was damaged in a Channel storm, leaking 200 tonnes of oil.

Local residents sparked a scavenger hunt when the Napoli shed its cargo, as looters swooped onto nearby beaches to grab everything from BMW motorbikes to disposable nappies.

Toby Stone, head of Counter Pollution Response said the operation had been "a success story without doubt".

The Napoli is being towed by tug further out to sea and will be held there for a number of days while a team of divers carry out a full survey to see what repairs are required.

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