Latest site information…….

The much-talked about jack up rig is now up and running at the Mulheim wreck site in Gamper Bay near Lands End.

With good weather it may be possible to offload the remaining cargo of plastic car scrap by the end of the week - however this is a very weather dependent operation and a sudden change could see a further loss of cargo to the sea and polluting our fragile marine environment.

Salvagers had estimated that as much as half the Mulheim's cargo was lost to the sea before the cargo salvage operation began at the tail end of last week - a statistic that has led to SAS to call on the Government to launch a Public Inquiry into the running of the salvage operation.

More plastic on beaches……..

Over the weekend small amounts of hand-sized pieces of plastic have washed up onto Sennen Cove.The beaches are being checked daily and cleaned if necessary at each stage of the tide. This operation has the full support of SAS and will continue under the local authority's guidance until the beaches are free from this pollutant.

Be vigilant……….

We ask water users and beach goers to remain vigilant at oher beaches in the area and to contact both Penwith Disttrict Council and ourselves if you find any of the black plastic. The 24 hour emergency number for Penwith D.C is 01736 334848.

Please note that some waste washing up on local beaches may be more harmful than it appears and therefore any suspicious items should not be touched but reported to the local authority to investigate further.

What will happen to the salvaged cargo………?

Discussions are ongoing as to what will be done with the salvaged car scrap, but we understand negotiations are underway with the local authorities in Ireland as to the possibility of returning it there.

Removing the vessel……….

SAS have also called for the full salvage of the vessel rather than leave it in situ to decay, pollute and rust away as a scar on our heritage coastline. This campaign is gathering momentum and a number of other bodies have called for the vessel's removal including Cornwall County Council, Penwith District Council, the Duchy of Cornwall, The National Trust and Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

The bigger picture……..

What this incident has shown most of all is that we need urgent new and enforceable legislation to exclude any vessel that is deemed a risk - in terms of its age, history or cargo - from our vulnerable stretches of coastline and thereby reduce the risk of environmental disasters. We also need to see environmental liability legislation to come on line immediately too effectively make the "polluter pay". Without this our coastline is at risk and the possibility of another 'Prestige' incident occurring remains pretty high! SAS is challenging decision-makers across the EU to adopt this radical reform!

The Story so far...

"Mulheim continues to break up"

"CARRY ON MULHEIM"

" CONCERN OVER DECISION TO LEAVE THE MULHEIM TO BREAK UP."

"A LUCKY ESCAPE FOR THE BEACHES"

"TOXIC CARGO FAR FROM SAFE SAY SURFERS AGAINST SEWAGE"

"MULHEIM UPDATE - DAY 17"

"3 WEEKS ON AND THE MULHEIM CONTINUES TO PUT ENVIRONMENT AT RISK."

"SAS express disappointment at decision to leave Mulheim on the rocks"

"COCKTAIL OF NASTIES!"

"MULHEIM PLASTIC FOUND ON NEWQUAY'S GOLDEN SANDS"

"MULHEIMS 'DIRTY' CARGO SPREADING FAR AND WIDE"

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