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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| 'Confusion' led to Napoli looting | 'Confusion' led to Napoli looting |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The "looting mayhem" which followed the beaching of the MSC Napoli off the coast of Devon could have been avoided, a public inquiry has found. | The "looting mayhem" which followed the beaching of the MSC Napoli off the coast of Devon could have been avoided, a public inquiry has found. |
| The Napoli Inquiry recommended the creation of an "all-powerful commander" to deal with future incidents. | The Napoli Inquiry recommended the creation of an "all-powerful commander" to deal with future incidents. |
| After the grounding of the vessel in January 2007 about 50 containers washed ashore at Branscombe beach. | After the grounding of the vessel in January 2007 about 50 containers washed ashore at Branscombe beach. |
| Thousands of people rushed to scavenge the contents before the area was eventually sealed off by police. | Thousands of people rushed to scavenge the contents before the area was eventually sealed off by police. |
| The chaos that the world saw at Branscombe, need never happen again Professor Ian Mercer, inquiry chairman | The chaos that the world saw at Branscombe, need never happen again Professor Ian Mercer, inquiry chairman |
| Professor Ian Mercer, the inquiry chairman, said: "Two things matter most. | Professor Ian Mercer, the inquiry chairman, said: "Two things matter most. |
| "The chaos that the world saw at Branscombe, need never happen again if from minute one of day one of the coastal approach of the casualty there is a single all-powerful commander on shore." | "The chaos that the world saw at Branscombe, need never happen again if from minute one of day one of the coastal approach of the casualty there is a single all-powerful commander on shore." |
| The commander role, likely to be assumed by the local police chief constable, would be equivalent to that of the existing Secretary of State's Representative for Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) at sea. | The commander role, likely to be assumed by the local police chief constable, would be equivalent to that of the existing Secretary of State's Representative for Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) at sea. |
| Prof Mercer said the police felt "powerless to intervene" when people began looting items ranging from disposable nappies, to motorbikes, from the beach. | Prof Mercer said the police felt "powerless to intervene" when people began looting items ranging from disposable nappies, to motorbikes, from the beach. |
| Officers had been told that people could remove items from the beach as long as they reported their salvage within 28 days. | Officers had been told that people could remove items from the beach as long as they reported their salvage within 28 days. |
| He said the creation of the new SOSREP on shore role (SOSREPOS) would avoid any future confusion about the law "the likes of which led to the looting mayhem experienced in Branscombe". | He said the creation of the new SOSREP on shore role (SOSREPOS) would avoid any future confusion about the law "the likes of which led to the looting mayhem experienced in Branscombe". |
| Prof Mercer also called on the Government to reimburse the costs of handling the aftermath of an incident. | Prof Mercer also called on the Government to reimburse the costs of handling the aftermath of an incident. |
| Salvage operation | Salvage operation |
| Devon County Council spent £44,000 on the clean-up while Devon and Cornwall Police estimated they spent more than £320,000 on the operation. | Devon County Council spent £44,000 on the clean-up while Devon and Cornwall Police estimated they spent more than £320,000 on the operation. |
| The committee also found that booms to prevent oil from spreading at sea were inadequate for the "predictable" weather conditions. | The committee also found that booms to prevent oil from spreading at sea were inadequate for the "predictable" weather conditions. |
| The MSC Napoli was carrying 2,400 containers and 3,664 tonnes of fuel oil and marine diesel when its hull cracked during a storm off Cornwall. | The MSC Napoli was carrying 2,400 containers and 3,664 tonnes of fuel oil and marine diesel when its hull cracked during a storm off Cornwall. |
| It was decided to deliberately ground it off the Dorset and Devon World Heritage Coast amid fears it could break-up at sea. | It was decided to deliberately ground it off the Dorset and Devon World Heritage Coast amid fears it could break-up at sea. |
| Work to salvage the wreck is expected to be completed in August. | |
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| The Devon County Council inquiry has made a series of recommendations |