Debris at Beer and Branscombe sparks Napoli memories

Stormy weather has washed debris ashore at Beer and Branscombe which could be from the MSC Napoli.

Items resembling cargo from the huge ship have been spotted almost five years after the vessel was beached.

Sidmouth Lifeboat towed what is believed to be a container door ashore on Tuesday from Littlecombe Shoot, and beachgoers have reported seeing black plastic cart part-like items on Beer beach this week.

Also on Tuesday, Beer Coastguard towed a 40 foot length of a refrigerated container back to land, but this is not believed to be from the Napoli.

Terry Hoare, the coastguard manager, said: “While returning from the previous incident another section of container was seen off Beer beach, the lifeboat towed the 40 foot section to shore where it was pulled above the high water mark.

“The recent storm had blown these large sections onto the shore, these containers were not believed to be from the MSC Napoli incident.”

In January 2007, cargo from the stricken MSC Napoli washed up on the shores of Branscombe, prompting unprecedented scenes of scavenging.