Pollution fears as UK ship loses cargo

A damaged container ship, grounded off the English coast and listing badly, began to lose some of its cargo in heavy winds, and officials said Sunday that oil was leaking from a crack in the vessel's hull.



The stricken MSC Napoli was deliberately run aground in waters close to Sidmouth, southwest England, after it was damaged during a storm on Thursday.



Navy helicopters rescued the vessel's 26 crew members in rough seas, 45 miles (70 kilometers) off Lizard Point on England's southwest tip.



French maritime officials said that of the 41,700 tons of merchandise in the ship's 2,400 containers, 1,700 tons were considered dangerous, including explosive and flammable material. The containers also hold motorcycles, car parts and oak barrels.



Britain's Department for Transport said more than 200 containers from the ship, which was listing at a 30-degree angle, had slid into the sea as new gales struck the English coast late Saturday.



Maritime and Coast Guard spokesman Paul Coley said two of the containers that went overboard contained hazardous materials -- including battery acid and perfume products -- but that the risk they posed was "minimal."



Robin Middleton, the government's salvage adviser, said a greater threat was posed by the ship's 3,000 tons of diesel and fuel oil, some of which had leaked out through a crack in the vessel's port side. He said only one fuel tank appeared to be ruptured, and no more than 200 tons of oil was likely to leak.



Middleton told a news conference that salvage workers would attempt to stabilize the ship to prevent it capsizing, pump out the fuel oil and remove the containers.



The 16-year-old vessel is registered in London and was last inspected by the coast guard agency in May 2005, when officials said it met safety standards.