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21/07/2007, 2:18 PM sandgrounder Joined on 21/07/2007 Posts 4 Re: MSC Napoli - Boom number 3??? They'd have had no trouble finding oil in Seaton.     Arrived for our annual holiday yesterday to find a deserted beach and contradictory signs - how can a beach be 'Business as Usual' whilst further down it says 'don't swim in the sea near the Napoli'?   Just walking on the pebbles covered the bottoms of all our shoes in blobs of oil - which aren't always visible as you walk along.      Tried to ring the number on the website for Devon council today to see whether we could go in the water - as the updates were 2 days out of date - and the recorded message said that they were only open in the week - does not occur to them that as its the first week of the holidays loads of people might be wanting to find out?   The TIC in Seaton 'Only know whats on the signs' and was 'Trying to find out'.   Loads of very cross visitors amongst the few that are around.    The locals are up in arms, muttering that something will only be done when it impacts Sidmouth! Lack of trade appears to be causing the ice cream and other shops to be closing early too. As someone who comes here every year, loves it  (paying about the same as going abroad with a journey that is actually longer than flying to the Med) I don't have a problem with the fact that the Napoli is there - stuff happens,   but please don't pretend that it isn't impacting things and understand how dreadfully it is being managed.            Report

23/07/2007, 10:59 AM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - oil at Seaton. Hi Sandgrounder, It is a great shame that oil is coming ashore at Seaton - everybody agrees it is unwanted. You may be nearing the head of the nail when you comment that not much will be done unless it impacts on Sidmouth - on a parochial level of course. The displaying of signs along the various promenades was the council's reaction to the media coverage. We must not forget though, it would have been a disaster for the whole of the south coast if the vessel had not been beached in a controlled way in Lyme Bay in order for the incident to be managed as well as it has been - the salvors have ventured into uncharted waters and have done pretty well so far. This small amount of oil will not last on the beaches for ever. I sincerely hope you still enjoy your holiday.      Report

23/07/2007, 11:02 PM sandgrounder Joined on 21/07/2007 Posts 4 Re: MSC Napoli - oil at Seaton. Thanks for your good wishes.   Understand the wider context, but this is my ONE week here with my family - I work long hours and don't get a second chance at Summer 2007.   I've managed to keep things going by a visit to the pool (full of fed up visitors), the arcades (ditto), walks to Beer Beach (HUGE puddle of oil being washed in - ALL the beach cafes closed), extra trips on the (pretty empty & only on a 20 minute service) trams.    The restaurants are empty.   Tomorrow a trip up the coast.  I'm sure that I'll get to pay extortionate car parking fees to your council for that one too.  Total additonal costs - significant.    Best thing - Rossini's is still open and the food is wonderful. When I asked the Holiday Rental company why they hadn't warned me (like any of the ones that I would rent from abroad) - they said they didn't know - and based on  the council and government sites I can understand why.       My suggestions to East Devon council, who finally deigned to pick up a phone today.... PLAN IN ADVANCE - Blowing the boat up was planned - your response should have been in place 1) Run a subsidised bus to safe beaches 2) Subsidise and advertise the pool in Seaton 3) Encourage (subsidise) traders to stay open - you don't cost cut your way to success - the smell of desertion is becoming a self fulfilling prophecy 4) Get some reality into managing the situation - the notices are still confusing - I saw children in the sea yesterday - the council say it wouldn't be safe ALL WEEK - get the message large clear and bold on the web site and get patrols on the beach. MANAGE THE EFFECTS As to next year.    Mmmmm - was already wondering (despite protests from my family)  about changing where to go if the 'regeneration' goes ahead - sharing my remaining holidays whilst the girls are school age with years of trucks and building sites wasn't appealing - the apparently complacent attitude of your tourist industry (private and public) to the Napoli affair has made many like me question whether it will be Seaton, or indeed East Devon next year......  If one of the coucillors/ officials/ chamber of commerce guys cares to contact me via this forum to persuade me that I should come back that might be a start. And if I sound like Victor Meldrew, I can but say - I'm not the only one.    Report

24/07/2007, 10:46 AM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - tug movements... The blue tug Maersk Advancer left the scene late last night (Monday 23rd) and is currently in the Dover Straits heading for Aberdeen. It appears her job is done. The MCA tug Anglian Earl is now loitering around the bow/main deck section and it appears she is now the guardship/tug until the next phase of the operation.      Report

24/07/2007, 6:06 PM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - oil at Seaton. Sandgrounder, Your list of points are extremely valid especially number 4 - they certainly do need patrols on the beach and not any more signs - this is infact the subject of another thread on this forum. Again I wish you the best for the remainder of your holiday - have a day in Sidmouth if you can.      Report

06/08/2007, 3:13 PM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - still here. I was talking to a Folk Week street trader on Sidmouth seafront the other day - he was selling base-ball caps of varying designs. I told him he should have had some printed with MSC Napoli across the peak. He replied "MSC Napoli? Whats that then?" I just carried on walking!!!!!!        Report

07/08/2007, 6:26 PM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - They're coming to take her away ha ha!! Keep a sharp lookout over the next few days - the MCA tug Anglian Earl will soon be towing the hull away to Belfast.      Report

09/08/2007, 10:46 AM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - They're coming to take her away ha ha!! The bow section was put under tow yesterday evening and as of 1030 hours this morning, both tug and tow have drifted out to sea - about 4 miles offshore - and currently due south of Branscombe. News reports are that the tow voyage should commence at about 1300 hours today.      Report

13/08/2007, 5:45 PM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - bow section arrived safely off Belfast. Thankfully the bow section has arrived safely off Belfast and is currently still attached to tug Anglian Earl awaiting instructions to go alongside. Recent letters in the Sidmouth Herald show that there are still some people who do not accept that the right decisions were made back in January. The following article on the EDDC site is worth a read:- http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/index/your_council/news_and_press_releases/msc_napoli_incident.htm      Report

17/08/2007, 11:43 AM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - bow section on way to final dock. Reports in this weeks' Sidmouth Herald stating that the bow section has arrived in the Harland and Wolff shipyard were a tad premature. The bow section and tug Anglian Earl have spent a few days drifting off Belfast Louch - both tow and tug slowly moved up to the Belfast Fairway Buoy late last night/early this morning in preparation for the final leg of the voyage. At 0825 hours this morning, assisted by harbour tugs Willowgarth and Svitzer Mallaig the bow section started to move toward the port.  At time of writing this post, the vessels are nearing the Harland and Wolff yard - but, not actually in it. The final chapter for this part of the ship is nearly coming to an end. On a more local note - why is the boom at the mouth of the Sid only spanning half of the channel? I've advised EDDC about this yesterday, but, nothing has been done. Fat lot of good its doing at present!!        Report

19/08/2007, 10:47 PM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - oil dispersant operation winding down??? The oil dispersant vessel Union Beaver left the scene yesterday (Saturday) and after a brief spell off Portland, resumed her voyage to Sluiskil - at the time of this post she was about 10 miles east of Zebrugge. The ineffective oil boom has now been removed from the mouth of the river Sid. In any event, it was a half-hearted attempt to show the populace that something was being done! You cannot rig an effective boom across an area that is bounded by a solid vertical wall on one side by using basic mooring ropes. At high tides, when the boom was required to do it's work, the ropes slackened off allowing the boom to float halfway across the channel thus allowing whatever to float up-river. The weir, downriver of the ford, does the job much better. I see that EDDC have placed new notice boards (more signs) on the seafront giving information about the incident - oh well its only taken them 7 months!!        Report

21/08/2007, 10:28 PM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - photos of the bow section final voyage. There are some good photographs - courtesy of the MCA - of the final voyage of the bow section at the following link:- https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/press/album187.      Report

23/08/2007, 7:39 PM vcc Joined on 23/08/2007 Posts 1 Re: MSC Napoli - offshore for a visit. Hello, all this talk of the Napoli and containers has prompted me to wonder if all the containers scatter around this hot and sunny island of Cyprus could infact be from the Napoli, indeed each Sunday on our way to Larnaca on the A3 there are several littered on the side of the road some large some small, although i'm not sure if they contain items of interest.......?    Report

24/08/2007, 6:04 PM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - stern section going soon... Recent reports indicate that Smit International have secured the contract to remove the remaining stern section - the equipment required for this operation will be massive! It's a very responsible decision by the owners to attempt a complete removal and will keep any further pollution to an absolute minimum - it will ensure an influx of sightseers when the cranes and barges start arriving though! Interesting times ahead - and a potential Christmas bonus for local traders (if they've got the gumption to take advantage!)        Report

29/08/2007, 5:39 PM Seadog Joined on 05/03/2007 Posts 198 Re: MSC Napoli - Merchant Navy Day I do hope the local Sidmouth traders will take time to look up from their latest till receipts and the Jurassic NIMBYS will take time out from dead-heading their Bizzi Lizzies to give the wreck a quick glance on Monday 3rd September - and give a thought to the thousands of seafarers engaged in bringing in the imports (roughly 93% of our goods are imported!) on Merchant Navy Day!!        Report

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Devon24 Forums » Devon24 » News » MSC Napoli - offshore for a visit.

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