Over 1,500 ships have been screened and, in addition to the 12 requiring remedial action, a further 10 vessels were identified as being borderline and requiring more detailed investigation. Remedial action for these ships has either been completed, planned, or is being arranged. Where necessary, operational limitations have been agreed or strongly advised until the remedial work has been completed.

The MAIB report details how MSC Napoli was sailing at 11 knots through waves up to 9m high on the morning of 18 January 2007 when the hull failed due to insufficient buckling strength in way of the engine room. Classification rules applicable at the time of the vessel's construction did not require buckling strength calculations to be undertaken beyond amidships. There was no or insufficient safety margin between the hull's design loading and its ultimate strength. The load on the hull was likely to have been increased the whipping effect of heavy pitching and the vessel's speed was not reduced sufficiently for the sea conditions.

Recommendations have been made to the International Association of Classification Societies which are intended to increase the requirements for containership design, consolidate current research into whipping effect, and to initiate research into the development and use of technological aids for measuring hull stresses on containerships. Recommendations have also been made to the International Chamber of Shipping with the aim of promoting best practice within the containership industry.

Work is nearing completion at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast dismantling the forward section of MSC Napoli, a process which will yield some 60,000 tons of shipbuilding grade steel. Work is also underway in Branscombe Bay cutting off the propeller, rudder and main drive shaft from the vessel's aft section. Scrap will be removed to Holland for recycling over the next five months and, once this process is complete, a full underwater survey will be carried out to ensure that the seabed is clear of all recoverable debris.