How Damaging Is The Napoli To Our Coast?

[Newboy]

With all those oil gushing out of its hull, just how damaging is it to our marine life and more importantly, how will it affect our fishing?

 

It may be some miles from our coast, but the oil will settle onto the seabed and from there, it goes up the food chain from small shrimps to bigger fish.

 

We already see plenty of dead seabirds, guess it won't be long before the crabs and lobster and scallops are next. Experts say it will be years before the seabed recovers.

[bootlegger]

Are you sure ?????

 

You're wondering what damage a single ship and it's payload is going to cause to our fishing when the sea bed and the envronment has had to put up with years of abuse, dumping, pollution, over fishing, and unsustainable economic and industrial use of the sea and shore line.

 

I would say with a degree of perspective, a drop in the ocean.

[jack]

Do'es anyone think this will make a huge difference to Andy's and my fish catching ?..If nothing else we will have a wonderful excuse to the wives..

[Coddy]

Just be aware of some of the "lost" containers that might still be floating half submerged as you cruise along at high speed.

 

Don't think it would do your craft a lot of good if you hit one of these!

 

Coddy

[Gnasher]

anyone wanna buy a BMW motor bike? haha...........can't tax or insure it though

[Paul D]

I think the amount of oil is relatively small ( apart from the affect on the seabirds from the diesel which was initially spilt. )

 

An interesting fact regarding the containers. It was being discussed on the radio and a figure was quoted for the numbers of containers which fall off ships at sea over the year. The number was quite staggering - I cant remember exactly how many but it was in the 10's of thousands I think.

 

It was also pointed out that the South Coast is one of the worst places for oil pollution - given all the ships travelling up and down the channel.

 

The way I see it, the containers will have little affect and in fact could even be beneficial for the rod and line angler ( IMHO ) as they prevent trawling where they are sitting on the sea bed.

 

Comments ?

 

[Fugazi]

The way I see it, the containers will have little affect and in fact could even be beneficial for the rod and line angler ( IMHO ) as they prevent trawling where they are sitting on the sea bed.

 

Any debris on the sea bed in time will provide food and shelter for marine life to thrive and the commercials know this so it won

[Afishionado]

There's about

[Newboy]

On a channel island trip last year, we were doing 20+ on the way back, flat calm, not a wave in sight. Somewhere in mid channel the skipper had to do a hard to starboard, he saw what looked like a wheel hub (?) float at the surface. He did a u turn and had a closer look, it was some sort of a tower had to be at least 15' under water, with only a round hub with 4 bolt sticking above the water. Had we hit it, I think that would be it.....

[gaffa]

Some Years Ago the Sales director of a company I used to work for managed a deal that got him a huge commission.

 

He decided that he would buy himself a boat and purchased an offshore power boat of 80 mph capability from 2 huge outboards hanging off the back.(I think it was an ex Poole to Cowes Racer )

 

As he was a first time boat buyer with no experience it seemed a disaster was awaiting to happen.

 

On his first ever trip out from Poole and with a Dolly Bird for company(he was a right poser and yeah I admit I was Jealous), he cleared the harbour entrance and opened the throttles. Everything was fine until at about 50 knots he hit a partially sumerged railway sleeper which took the stern of the boat off complete with both engines.

 

Luckily the boat had enough buoyancy to keep afloat and they were rescued fairly quickly. The Stern and Engines were Salvaged and the Boat eventually repaired and instantly sold. I dont think he ever bought another.

 

I have never forgotten his description of events and even today always keep a very sharp lookout for semi floating objects or disturbances in the water.

 

The Only good thing that came out of the experience was that the Dolly Bird wouldn't go near him again.

 

Pete

 

[Adam F]

Its a bigger danger than we think.

 

A few years back one of the Weymouth fleet hit a container kid channel en-route to Alderney, it smashed the bow, but didnt breach the forward bulkhead. He managed to link back to Weymouth.

 

I have seen numerous sleepers and large flotsam and jetsom, fortunatly our small boats whilst being relitively fragile, are pretty nimble and easy to manouvre.

 

 

[Paul D]

Indeed Adam. I have actually got a HUGE piece of Ash which we pulled out of the sea on one trip out. It just fitted in the boat and had we hit it could have been interesting.

( Mind you hitting the Beerpan could have so easily had the same affect but fortunately Orkney's are quite strongly built ).