Several tar balls have been found and collected near the site where the containership MSC Baltic III ran aground in Newfoundland back in February.
The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) told local media that the oil likely came from the grounded vessel, although there is no evidence of a continuous leak from its fuel tanks.
The first tar ball, about the size of a tennis ball, was discovered during a beach search on 11 April with two more found the next day. So far, six or seven tar balls have been recovered and sent to a lab for testing.
Furthermore, the CCG believes the tar balls may have originated from heavy fuel onboard the ship and were possibly washed ashore during recent storms in the area. No other oil has been seen floating in the bay.
Additionally, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was deployed on 13 April to inspect the hull, confirming that there is no ongoing fuel leak. However, earlier reports from the salvage team noted multiple cracks in the hull, along with water in the engine room and cargo holds.
The MSC Baltic III was carrying around 1,600 metric tonnes of heavy fuel and marine gas oil when it ran aground.
As reported, due to the extent of hull damage, refloating the ship is not currently possible with the harsh weather continuing to complicate the ongoing salvage efforts.
