Crew safe

MSC Napoli crew sucessfully air lifted off stricken container ship in Channel

Following yesterday's rapidly developing situation in the storm battered English Channel all 26 crew of the 60,000 GRT MSC Napoli were taken off by Royal Navy helicopter to RNAS Culdrose.

The Falmouth Coastguard have been working closely with their French colleagues, on a French led operation following on from the distress call from MSC Napoli.

After taking on water the vessel was in a stable position 45 miles South East of the Lizard yesterday evening. A salvage contract has been agreed and awarded.

Robin Middleton, Secretary of States Representative for Salvage and Intervention and leading the MCA Salvage Response Unit said last night: "The MCAs Emergency Towing Vessel, Anglian Princess and a French tug are on scene. A French salvage team is being transferred onto the MSC Napoli by helicopter and will assess the stability and integrity of the vessel to decide if the vessel can be towed. The current plan is to tow the vessel to a port and discharge the cargo ashore."

A representative from the MCA told TheDailySail at 12.30pm Friday that the ship had been taken under tow by two French tugs, with the MCA's Emergency Towing Vessel Anglian Princess in escort. The destination port is to be announced later today.

Ten people have been reported killed in Britain due to the storms that lashed the country yesterday.