Høvik: DNV is investigating several potential causes of the MSC Napoli incident. So far, none of them can be excluded.
The MSC Napoli was a DNV-classed vessel. DNV gathered a group of experts at its head office as soon as it had been informed about the incident in the English Channel on 18 January. All necessary expertise is being applied to find out why the 4,419 TEU container ship was damaged in the rough seas and then had to be beached on the Devon coast.
Olav Nortun, technical director and deputy COO (Chief Operating Officer) of DNV Maritime, says: “As a class society, we are conducting a thorough investigation and must take the time required to ensure that no potential causes are overlooked. This work has, however, the highest priority to ensure that any lesson learnt from this incident can be shared as soon as possible.”
Based on information from the actual incident, the ship’s history, a review of the results of previous surveys and an ongoing analysis of the ship’s strength, the possible reasons or combination of reasons for the incident may include:
- Weather-related factors like wind and waves
- Vessel strength
- Weight of cargo
- Progressive flooding
Although no causes have been ruled out so far, preliminary investigations have indicated that fatigue in side longitudinals and bottom damage caused by a previous known grounding are less likely causes.
“It has to be clearly stressed that DNV has not been on board the ship after the date of the incident. As the engine room was flooded at an early stage, and still is, no one has so far had access to the area of concern. At this stage of the investigation, focusing on one single cause would only be speculation and DNV does not want to speculate,” says Nortun.
The MSC Napoli was built in 1991. The ship was classed by DNV from September 2002. The class transfer was conducted according to IACS (International Association of Classification Societies) procedures and the ship has been surveyed regularly by DNV since then.
The most recent annual survey was completed in November 2006. In November 2004, the MSC Napoli was dry docked during which bottom, intermediate and annual class and statutory surveys were carried out.
The last time a DNV surveyor was on board the ship was 13 January 2007 in Antwerp. The MSC Napoli had no condition of class when it left Antwerp.
DNV has informed, and cooperated constructively with, the EU and UK authorities (Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)), shipowner, yard and previous class society Bureau Veritas (BV). DNV intends to continue this collaboration to ensure an efficient investigation – with respect to both the time spent on the investigation and the quality of every part of DNV’s work.
