In a Yachting Monthly investigation into rogue containers published in the April 2007 issue (Accidents waiting to happen) we warned that giant ships driving hard to meet demanding schedules were becoming ‘more susceptible to damage.’

Now , unfortunately, our predictions have become a cold reality. Today the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published a report into MSC Napoli which was deliberately grounded a mile off Sidmouth in Devon last year to stop her sinking. She shed some 200 containers, carrying everything from disposable nappies to luxury motor-cycles, before being beached.

The MAIB report has found that the ship broke her back as she hit big seas because she was laden with overloaded containers and steaming too fast for the conditions.

See Dick Durham’s blog for full story.