23/06/2004 00:00
TW
0

by Staff Reporter
THE Balearic environment ministry has started to break up a yacht which has been stranded on the beach at Muro since the storms which hit the island in 2001, prior to removing it altogether.

The operation will cost 12'000 euros and should be completed by next weekend.
The ministry decided to move the boat, which is in poor condition, following requests from the town hall and the Muro hoteliers association, worried about the affect the wreck has on tourism, and the possible danger involved.

The beach has been cordoned off and the ministry will first of all remove the mast and then cut the hull open to remove the interior.
This stage of the operation has been entrusted to a specialised firm.
Once it has been completed, the hull will be cut into three pieces so that it can be removed from the beach easily.
The ministry will install two containers by the ship, which will be used to store the pieces as they are removed from the interior.
This will be done early every morning, to avoid inconvenience to bathers.
Environment minister Jaume Font, who visited the beach to supervise the organisation of the operation, took the opportunity to hoist the Blue Flag which the beach at Muro has been granted this year.

This year, nine Majorcan beaches, including Alcudia, lost their Blue Flags, but six beaches which did not have one last year gained the coveted award.