MSC Napoli

Source of pollution: 
non-tanker
Animals affected
Over 1000 birds affected
Species affected: 
Mostly guillemots

The MSC Napoli became beached off Beer Head on the East Devon coast (English Channel) after it ran into difficulties on Saturday, 20 January 2007. The vessel was in danger of breaking up while under tow to Portland for repairs.

Amount and type of oiled spilled: 
Approximately 302 tonnes of IFO-380 (intermediate fuel oil) and MDO (marine diesel oil)
Wildlife Response: 

In the week following the MSC Napoli disaster, RSPCA officers and members of the public picked up 1,020 oiled birds between Torbay in Devon and Poole in Dorset, with the majority of the birds coming from the Portland end of Chesil Beach in Dorset. All of the birds were cared for by the RSPCA. The 485 birds that survived after being cleaned and were released back into the wild.

Publications and links: 

MSC Napoli Incident - The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's response

Birds rescued in Napoli leak; BBC; 14 July 2007
The real victims of Napoli's loss; BBC; 24 January 2007
Scavengers take washed-up goods; BBC; 22 January 2007
Devon County Council de-brief report
Response to the grounding of MSC Napoli; Natural England (page 3)
MSC Napoli; Wikipedia