Efforts continue off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador following the grounding of the MSC Baltic III near Wild Cove, with authorities providing their fifteenth update on the incident.
The MSC Baltic III, a 2,478 TEU container ship, ran aground on February 15, 2025, near Wild Cove. The incident occurred after the vessel experienced a complete power. Despite the crew’s efforts to anchor the ship, severe weather conditions, with winds reaching up to 120 km/h and waves as high as 6 meters, prevented successful anchoring, leading the ship to drift ashore and ground on the rocky coastline. All 20 crew members were safely evacuated by a Cormorant helicopter shortly after the grounding, with no reported injuries.
According to the latest report, on-water and shoreline surveys are ongoing. Two additional tar balls were discovered on the shoreline since the last update, but no further signs of pollution have been observed. This suggests that current containment measures are largely effective, though vigilance remains high.
Of the approximately 230 cubic metres of fuel initially removed from the grounded vessel, 195 cubic metres have now been successfully transferred to the MSC Celine. The shortfall, authorities explained, is attributed to residual oil left behind in the frac tanks during the transfer process. The four frac tanks remaining on the Baltic III are at full capacity and await transfer as weather conditions allow.
Salvage operations are progressing steadily. On April 29, 14 cargo containers were removed from the ship’s deck and are being transported to shore via barge, with the landing point set in Corner Brook. The Canadian Coast Guard remains on-site, overseeing operations and coordinating with the contracted salvage company to mitigate any risk of environmental damage.
In a related development, MSC has announced that it has secured contractors to begin construction to improve road access from Little Port to the grounded vessel’s site. This infrastructure will aid in facilitating equipment movement and potentially accelerate the ongoing cleanup and recovery process.
The Canadian Coast Guard and MSC will continue to provide public updates as conditions evolve and additional recovery milestones are reached.
