Msc Napoli...Environmental disaster, or a potential "Golden Egg"?

Question

http://www.dailymotion.com/julianjoepeace/video/x2qsdy_msc-napoli_news

Damaged 18th January 2007 & subsequently beached the MSC Napoli was a nightmare come true for the 14,000 + residents of Sidmouth and the World Heritage Coastline off Branscombe.

Using explosives for the third time, the ship was finally split in two and a further seepage of oil was successfully minimised. We cant begin to calculate the possible ongoing effects of environmental damage, but could the ill-fated ship be a potential Golden Egg for the Devon Coast?

If the sunken half of the ship was towed a little further out to sea, it may attract a variety of marine life similarly to that of a coral reef. This in turn could attract divers, biologists, tourists (grottle) boat trips (?) media and could open the floodgates for added revenue to the nearby coastal towns.

What are your views.

Answer 1

I`m sure that you are right. There are numerous locations where this is done. However, if the ship can be towed, maybe it should be towed to a breakers yard.

Answer 2

A cabbage with a huge heart, always looking on the bright side. The whole scavenging thing was a disgrace and I'm sure the people of sidmouth and surrounding areas were appalled at the numbers of modernday pirates that saturated the area. Let's hope something good does come of the whole mess. luv the clip jj

Answer 3

Hi - I think it's a great idea but I think the second half was towed away this week ( I'm not 100% sure of this).

Answer 4

I like your idea, you should put your notion forward to the Heritage Coast Trust, maybe you'd get some kind of recognition. I agree, the possibilities of a marine life explosion could create a huge load of interest in the area, the locals however may not be as enthusiastic. The vid was serene, what's the music you used? Well done PC

Answer 5

Cut it up for scrap.

Answer 6

I'll say the disaster, though messy, was not as bad as it could have been. It could take a couple of years for the marine life to establish a home dear, but you're right. The thing is, will the parties in question realise the potential. Take your idea further.

Answer 7

Sinking a vessel to help promote the creation of a reef for that sustains sea life takes a significant amout of removal work to make the ship environmentally friendly.  A recent U.S. Naval ship (about 120 feet long) sunk off of Florida required 7 tons of material to be removed first!

If this is going to be done (it has great potential), it has to be done right.  Material experts, proper salvagers brought in and regional environmental groups playing a role.

I like this idea and the potential.

I do think the bigger issue here is that this NEVER should have happened in the first place.  Those responsible need to be hit with fines that will slap them back to the stone age and I think for many of the others involved with this shipping company jail time is in order.

Answer 8

i agree with jen, 'cept I know a little piece of that huge heart is still down there eh cabbage. The slideshow thingy was a nice touch an ta for the two points.