Oil Surrounds Beached Ship Off England

Scavengers are frustrating emergency workers in southwest England working at securing a grounded freighter that spilled cargo and 200 tons of oil.

Police issued public warnings against taking items washed ashore from the MSC Napoli, which suffered major structural damage in a storm Thursday. The ship’s captain and environmental officials decided to deliberately beach the vessel off Branscombe to stop it from sinking in deep water, the BBC reported.

Sky News said private security companies have been hired to deter locals from scavenging items from containers washed up on the beach, ranging from car parts and motorcycles, to hair care products and diapers.

The 62,000-ton vessel was carrying 2,323 containers, 158 of which are classed as having potentially hazardous contents.

Robin Middleton from the Department of Transport said two ships were in place Monday to take on some 3,500 tons of oil, which will have to be heated before it can be pumped.

The fuel that has already leaked from the engine room has created a 5-mile slick, the BBC said.