Will anyone be going out on the boat trips around the MSC Napoli during the summer? A good chance to get some close-up photographs!
Moulder.
Hello Diane,
Might see you onboard then.
Went on the trip on Easter Sunday - thoroughly enjoyed it - was nice to get a bit closer to the ship.
Did anybody notice how busy it was in Sidmouth over the Easter break - everyone down at Port Royal end looking at the MSC Napoli. Was good to see some entrepeneurs making a few bob out of the photographs and "Napoli" mugs on sale in front of the Angling Club.
That Branscombe Vale Brewery beer "Napoli's on the Rocks" is a good pint as well.
It will be a sad day when the ship is towed away - I look forward to the next one coming!
Looks as though there are only a few containers left in the holds now and talk is that she could be empty by mid-May!
The question will then be - do they refloat her and take her to a port that can deal with the scrapping, do they cut her up in situ or will she be towed out to sink in deeper water?
Any preferences?
Looks as though she could be empty in a week or so!
I see a recent edition of the Sidmouth Herald is bidding Adios Napoli - a bit premature! I would have thought Farewell would have been more in keeping with the nautical flavour of this incident - these press & media bods really crack me up!!!!!
Reports now state that the damage in the vicinity of number 6 hold is probably not repairable and this area of the vessel will not support buoyancy - the fat lady has not yet sung!
Current chinese whispers indicate that the ship may be floated and taken away intact to a final resting place in a Norwegian Fjord!
The logistics are being put into place to get necessary equipment to the scene - weather permitting, we could see some movement at the end of the month or perhaps early July.
I wonder if she'll still be here so that the Folkies can sing us a few "Napoli sea shanties" when we're trying to have a quiet beer at the beginning of August?
Hmm - Sidmouth Herald is reporting that moves are afoot to commence pumping out the vessel on July 2 - weather permitting.
So its Do Ray Me Fah So La Tee Doh for the fat lady!!???
Ohhhh - bit of a conflict between the recent Sidmouth Herald front page and the Monday 18th June statement from Devon County Council Response Team - contrary to media reports, no decision has yet been made on the refloat date!!
Oh! Now we see that the Devon County Council update is quoting a Maritime & Coastguard Agency representative as saying that no definite date has been set for commencement of operations - contrary to media reports last friday!
The fat lady might as well put the throat gargle away for a while then!
EDITOR'S NOTE: The report in the Sidmouth Herald on Friday, June 15 was based on the information given by the salvagers at the time and was correct at the time the newspaper went to press.
There is an updated report in this week's Sidmouth Herald, on page 5, which can also now be read online by visiting:
http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/sidmouthherald/news/story.aspx?brand=SMHOnline&category=news&tBrand=devon24&tCategory=newssmh&itemid=DEED25%20Jun%202007%2009%3A47%3A05%3A080
Sally - thanks for your last post - it clarifies the situation somewhat, as does the article from page 5 of the current edition.
From a marine point of view - the salvors work for the owners/insurers and would not be planning any refloat unless this had been agreed by all parties. The government, in the guise of SOSREP, would also have to concur with any attempt to move the vessel - clearly the MCA had not given their agreement at the time the story went to press. Perhaps the Sidmouth Herald needs to speak to one or more of the other players before rushing to print instead of seeking comments from B&B owners and Tourism bods whose knowledge and expertise, quite frankly, does not cover this subject.
We have Spring Tides approaching - if the weather moderates and agreement is reached then who knows? Perhaps the fat lady should get the throat gargle back out of the medicine cabinet - or will she still be here for the Folkies to sing about?
I see Stuart Lines are advertising the next trip around the wreck on July 5th!!
What do they know that others don't???
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