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| Charges break ship's deck plate | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Explosives have been used in an attempt to separate a stricken cargo ship into two pieces off the east Devon coast. | Explosives have been used in an attempt to separate a stricken cargo ship into two pieces off the east Devon coast. |
| Cutting charges were detonated remotely at about 1410 BST on the MSC Napoli, which has been stranded off Branscombe since January. | |
| The ship's deck plates have been separated by the explosion, and tugs positioned at the bow and stern are attempting to pull the boat apart. | |
| A further detonation operation will be carried out on Wednesday at 1500 BST. | |
| The cutting charges will be positioned to cut the vessel's longitudinal joists. | |
| It is hoped this will allow the part of the ship ahead of the accommodation block to be parted from the stern. | It is hoped this will allow the part of the ship ahead of the accommodation block to be parted from the stern. |
| Click here to see how the operation was carried out | Click here to see how the operation was carried out |
| A 1000m exclusion zone has been placed around the Napoli and navigational warnings issued. | |
| The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) told BBC News all the cutting charges had worked. | |
| Spokesman Fred Caygill said experts will now inspect the ship and assess the situation, but added it was too soon to comment more on the operation. | |
| Further cutting charges will be detonated on Wednesday | |
| Devon and Cornwall Police said the footpaths have been reopened to walkers, but they will be closed again for the detonation on Wednesday. | |
| The exclusion zone will remain in place until further notice. | |
| The National Trust said it was concerned that oil which has come off the vessel since the charges were detonated is heading towards shore. | |
| The MSC Napoli was deliberately grounded in January after it was damaged in storms. | The MSC Napoli was deliberately grounded in January after it was damaged in storms. |
| It was refloated last week but the results of a diving survey revealed the hull was severely damaged and it was beached again on Thursday. | It was refloated last week but the results of a diving survey revealed the hull was severely damaged and it was beached again on Thursday. |
| The MCA warned that more residual oil could be released when the ship's hull is broken. | The MCA warned that more residual oil could be released when the ship's hull is broken. |
| Contractors appointed by the ship's owners have been dealing with oil which has been coming ashore on some of the beaches along the World Heritage Jurassic coast. | Contractors appointed by the ship's owners have been dealing with oil which has been coming ashore on some of the beaches along the World Heritage Jurassic coast. |
| Breaking up the MSC Napoli 1. Explosion carried out on ship to weaken deck above crack in hull. Tugs will try to pull the ship apart and if that fails a second explosion will be carried out.2. The stern will be left where it is, as it is grounded on the seabed.3. The bow of ship will be floated and towed away for salvage. Click here to return |