The Napoli and the Devon coast View from the top of Beer Head looking towards the Napoli cargo container ship, which was beached about a mile off the National Trust's East Devon coastline on 20 January. As well as being an important natural habitat, this area is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, protected for its varied and interesting geology.
The Napoli and the Dorset coast The beaches several miles further east in Dorset, still within the World Heritage Site, have also been affected. Debris from broken containers can be seen scattered along the tide line beneath towering cliffs between Burton Bradstock and West Bay.
Sea spray at dusk Strong south westerly winds remained in place for several days after the Napoli was grounded. It was these and strong sea currents which drove about 30 containers on to the National Trust beach at Branscombe, several of which can be seen looming out of the water here.
A difficult aftermath Containers which came ashore at Branscombe received a battering not just from the waves, but also unwelcome looters. Management of the beach, the clean up effort and security is now in the hands of a contractor and the East Devon police.
A container's journey This particular container travelled further than most. It was one of two which floated about 12 miles before reaching the rocky shoreline at Golden Cap in Dorset. It contained the belongings of a lady emigrating to South Africa.
A chocolate-lovers delight? The Napoli was transporting an incredible variety of items in its containers. Though only a few intact containers made it as far the beaches of Dorset, the content of many damaged ones did. Thousands of chocolate bars in oil-covered wrappers were sprawled across the beach at Burton Bradstock.
...and biscuits too Packets of biscuits were also among the debris washed ashore at Burton Bradstock.
Environmental hazards - 1 Not all things discovered on our beaches after the Napoli started breaking up were quite as sweet and inoccuous-looking as biscuits. This metal refrigeration unit at Seatown is just one of many hazardous items that National Trust wardens have encountered - car parts, compressed air canisters and batteries are a few others.
Environmental hazards - 2 Perhaps as much as 100 tonnes of oil leaked out of damaged tanks on the Napoli before a pumping unit was brought in to remove it safely. This is one of the most worrying environmental by-products of the incident. It clings to rocks and debris on the beaches and has percolated into the sand up to 12 inches deep in some places.
Environmental hazards - 3 Marine wildlife and sea birds have been suffering from contact with the oil slick. Several thousand birds have been washed ashore so far, either dirty or dead. In this photo, two oily guillemots - for whom Lyme Bay is an important roosting ground - huddle together on the shingle at Burton Bradstock.
The clean up effort This guillemot receives a health check after being found on the National Trust beach. The RSPCA have been helping to care for and clean up any injured birds. It is too early to tell what effect the shipwreck will have on other important local wildlife, like the scaly cricket, who makes its home in the shingle ridges at Branscombe.
Community support Local villagers have had a difficult few weeks, but have been eager to rally round and support the clean up effort. Here, at Burton Bradstock, volunteers receive a safety briefing before helping to remove debris from the beach. Due to the potentially hazardous nature of some materials coming ashore, professional contractors are in control at present, but the National Trust is compiling a list of those interested in volunteering who will be contacted to assist with long term conservation tasks arising from the Napoli incident, when we can safely access the beaches.
If you would like to volunteer, please get in touch with our Community and Volunteering Officer by email, leaving your name and full address, or call 01208 265249.
