A third round of explosives has finally split the stranded MSC Napoli into two sections.
Explosions were triggered soon after midday on the container ship, which has been stranded off the Devon coast since being damaged in a storm in January.
The stern of the ship will be cut up where it is, while the bow section is expected to be towed away for recycling in mainland Europe.
Two previous explosions on Tuesday and Wednesday had been only partially successful in separating the two sections, the first severing the deck plates and the second parting four of the longitudinal beams. Today's explosions broke the two remaining ties.
The operation was carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Ministry of Defence.
Toby Stone, head of counter pollution and response at the MCA, said: "We are pleased with the outcome of today's operation, and we now move into the next phase considering options for disposal."
He said it was "good news" that the two halves of the ship had detached cleanly, adding there was no chance of re-floating the stern section.
The bow section of the vessel could be towed into deeper water and anchored while it is inspected and sites are identified where it could be towed for recycling.
The stern section, including the accommodation block, will be cut up where it is and recycled. That operation is expected to take about a month.
The Napoli had been en route from Antwerp to South Africa when she began to break up in a severe storm. Her 26 crew members abandoned ship and were flown to safety. She was beached in shallow water in the hope that she could be salvaged.
The ship was finally refloated last week but the results of a diving survey revealed the hull was too severely damaged to be towed to a repair or breakers' yard, and she was beached again.
Contractors appointed by the vessel's owners have been dealing with oil leaking from the Napoli in her position about half a mile off Sidmouth on east Devon's World Heritage coast.
The anti-pollution ship Union Beaver is spraying dispersant to reduce pollution from the ship. It was not possible to boom the ship before the two halves were separated, but a boom will now be put in place around the stern. The rivers Brit, Axe and Sid have also been boomed.
