A heavy November storm has inflicted fresh damage on the MSC Baltic III, which has been grounded off Newfoundland's coast since February, severely disrupting ongoing salvage operations, according to the latest Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) reports.
The 2 478-TEU vessel, built in 2003, ran aground in Wild Cove near Cedar Cove on February 15 after losing power in stormy weather. The vessel reported a loss of power and all 20 crew were safely evacuated in a Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter.
Initial assessments revealed "significant breaches or holes" in the hull, with 75% of the structure resting stably on the seabed and approximately 1 600 metric tons of heavy fuel and marine gas oil aboard.
Salvage efforts, led by T&T Salvage under MSC oversight, have made strides despite relentless weather challenges.
By September, over 1 665 cubic metres of fuel had been removed and 399 of 472 containers – carrying goods like food, lumber and paper – were offloaded.
"The initial focus will be on the removal of the fuel and cargo," the CCG had said earlier.
Environmental monitoring detected minor residues, including "small tar balls" that washed up on the beach and were collected for analysis. However, there were no major spills.
According to the CCG, the latest heavy storm hit on November 7, hammering the region with "sustained, extreme wind and sea conditions”.
The coast guard said on Wednesday that this had prevented all on-water and ashore salvage operations, causing "significant movement... in the bow and stern sections" and a "noticeable change in the port side condition”.
Salvage crews faced "equipment damage and debris washing into the water and onto the shoreline”.
Post-storm boarding revealed structural damage visible in areas below deck, including framing, bulkheads and near the water ballast tank. The CCG warned that "safe areas may have changed", prompting a full hull survey and equipment checks. One additional tar ball surfaced on Cedar Cove's shoreline.
A one-nautical-mile emergency zone persists, with weather still pausing work.
"Once the assessment is complete, MSC and the salvage company will evaluate next steps," the CCG said.
