UK: The operation to remove the stern section of the container vessel 'MSC Napoli' from the East Devon coast has passed its first milestone.
The project team, led by Global Response Maritime of The Netherlands, has positioned the first of a series of lifting chains under the wreck by underwater drilling.
Twelve lifting chains are being drilled into position under the stern, which has a weight of around 3,800 tonnes. All twelve chains should be positioned by the end of April although operations of this type, naturally, are weather dependent.
The 'MSC Napoli' became a casualty during a violent Channel storm in January 2007. The vessel was beached deliberately, in order to prevent total loss. Subsequent operations, by other contractors, recovered bunkers, containers and the forepart of the ship.