Home
FacebookTwitterSearchMenu
  • Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Features
  • Knowledge Library
  • Columns
  • Customs
  • Jobs
  • Directory
  • FX Rates
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Send us news
    • Editorial Guidelines
Sea Freight

Tar balls wash ashore from MSC Baltic III

22 Apr 2025 - by Staff reporter
The MSC boxship where it is stranded off Canada’s Newfoundland coast.  Source: Canadian Coast Guard
0 Comments

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-mail
  • Print

Several tar balls have been washed up and recovered in the area near where the MSC Baltic III boxship was grounded in Newfoundland in February. 

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) told local media that it was almost certain the oil had come from the stranded ship, although it did not believe there was a consistent leak from its fuel tanks.

A team found the first of the tar balls, about the size of a tennis ball, during a recent search of the nearby beach on 11 April and two more were recovered the next day.

According to local media, a total of six or seven tar balls have now been found and these have been sent to a laboratory for testing.

The CCG said it suspected that the balls comprised heavy fuel that might have washed ashore during the recent stormy weather that lashed the bay where the ship was grounded. Oil has not been seen in the water anywhere else in the bay.

A remotely operated vehicle – a specialised underwater robot used for inspection and repair of ship hulls and underwater infrastructure – was used to survey the hull on April 13, and it was confirmed that there was no consistent fuel leak from the container ship.

This was despite the salvage team reporting earlier that there were multiple cracks in the hull and that there was water in the engine room and holds of the containership.

A survey of the vessel has estimated that the vessel was carrying approximately 1 600 metric tonnes of heavy fuel and marine gas oil in its tanks.

The salvage company began to pump fuel from the vessel in early March but it is a slow process due to the time required to heat and pump the fuel.

The CCG reported that 184 cubic metres of fuel had been pumped into frac tanks by early April. However, no fuel has been transferred off the vessel so far.

Eight containers of polymeric beads, which are considered dangerous goods, were initially removed from the vessel. There were about 470 containers on the ship when it ran aground on 15 February but approximately half were empties, according to MSC.

The damage to the hull of the vessel has ruled out the possibility of refloating the ship at this stage.

Harsh weather conditions continue to hamper the salvage operation.

Sign up to our mailing list and get daily news headlines and weekly features directly to your inbox free.
Subscribe to receive print copies of Freight News Features to your door.

Shippers warned to monitor cargo closely during Untu strike

Logistics

Logistics company advises shippers to communicate concerns about urgent or time-sensitive cargo.

Yesterday
0 Comments

GNU targets livestock auctions after China bans SA beef

Imports and Exports
Yesterday
0 Comments

New tariff protection for South African wheat hits a snag

Imports and Exports

Itac request for comment for stronger tariff protection for locally produced wheat only protects brown flour.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Creecy outlines logistics sector reforms

Logistics

The government is continuing to collaborate with original equipment manufacturers to ensure that spare parts for essential machinery can be sourced.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Suez Canal offers toll reductions for large containerships

Logistics

“We are monitoring developments moment by moment and assessing the changing dynamics.” – Maersk.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Oil spill response in Red Sea under the spotlight

Sea Freight

Workshop focuses on equipping officials and responders with the skills and knowledge to manage and mitigate major marine pollution incidents.

Yesterday
0 Comments

President Ramaphosa to meet Trump in US

Economy

The engagement will focus on a range of bilateral, regional and global matters of mutual interest.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Belgium port strike on the cards

Imports and Exports

Port operator PSA Antwerp will suspend truck export deliveries ahead of the strike.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Soy, maize imports surge due to regional drought

Imports and Exports

Dry conditions across the subcontinent forced South Africa to import white maize for the first time since the 2016-17 drought.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Famers need beyond-banking assistance – futures specialist

Imports and Exports

Agricultural assistance also extends to analysing the South African Futures Exchange.

15 May 2025
0 Comments

SA a top target for cyber attacks

Technology

Increasing dependence on technology to deliver services means security risks are rising.

15 May 2025
0 Comments

Carbon capture solution cuts emissions by up to 70%

Sea Freight

The high technology system captures emissions from all exhaust gas sources.

15 May 2025
0 Comments
  • More

FeatureClick to view

The Cape 16 May 2025

Border Beat

The N4 Maputo Corridor crossing – congestion, crime and potholes
12 May 2025
Fuel-crime curbing causes tanker build-up at Moz border
08 May 2025
Border police turn the tide on illegal crossings
29 Apr 2025
More

Featured Jobs

New

Seafreight Export Controller

Tiger Recruitment
Cape Town
15 May

Import Manager (NVOCC)

Switch Recruit
Eastrand
15 May
More Jobs
  • © Now Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Freight News RSS
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Send us news
  • Contact us