The container ship MSC Napoli has been beached once again off the Devon coast after a survey revealed that she was too badly damaged to be safely towed.
She was grounded again on yesterday's high tide in shallower waters north of where she was originally sitting in Branscombe Bay off the Devon coast.
The Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention, Robin Middleton said: “My decision to re-beach the MSC Napoli was taken following the re-floating of the vessel earlier this week which highlighted the fact that the wreck is in a worse state of deterioration than previously thought, with the crack of the hull being some 3m wide in places. On the basis of these findings, the vessel is incapable of being towed.”
The 62,000-ton ship was originally grounded in January after being damaged in storms. She was refloated on Monday after 58,000 tons of water was pumped from her holds and the hull was then inspected by divers.
It is now the responsibility of the ship's owners, Zodiac Maritime to dispose of her in consultation with the authorities. As she cannot be towed either to a repair yard or out to sea to be sunk in deep water, it seems that she will either have to be moved in sections or cut up where she lies. The salvage operation so far has cost in the region of £50m.
