Salvors Remove 85% Of Fuel From MSC Containership Grounded Since February

The Canadian Coast Guard is continuing its efforts to clean up the grounded container ship MSC Baltic III, with fuel removal now being the top priority.

The Liberia-flagged vessel has been stranded near Wild Cove, west of Lark Harbour, Newfoundland, since February 15 after it lost power in rough weather.

On July 9, the Coast Guard confirmed that about 85% of the heavy fuel from six main tanks onboard the ship has been safely removed and transferred to other MSC vessels.

This includes over 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil taken off the ship and delivered to the Port of Corner Brook for safe disposal. When it ran aground, the vessel was carrying an estimated 1,600 tonnes of heavy fuel.

The ship came to rest on a shallow rock shelf along Newfoundland’s west coast.

Since the grounding, the salvage team has also been working to remove cargo containers from the vessel. A total of 208 out of 472 containers have been taken off so far, including 36 removed in recent days. The vessel EEMS Dublin has been assisting with transferring both personnel and cargo containers.

The salvage team is making use of the calmer summer weather to continue operations. A barge has been brought alongside the ship to receive both the heavy fuel and cargo. Many of the containers removed were heavily damaged.

The Coast Guard said the focus is now shifting to removing oil from smaller tanks and the ship’s engine room. At the same time, environmental monitoring continues in surrounding waters and shorelines.

Observers have reported minor signs of pollution, like tar stains and small tar balls, particularly around Cedar Cove and nearby areas.

Authorities have kept a one-nautical-mile emergency and drone restriction zone around the grounded vessel to keep the public and response teams safe. The Coast Guard has noticed increased public activity near the site and reminded people to stay away from the restricted zone due to ongoing salvage work.

The incident began early on Saturday, February 15, when the cargo ship issued a MAYDAY distress call about 12 nautical miles from the entrance to the Bay of Islands.

The ship had lost power and could not drop anchor due to the rough weather conditions. All 20 crew members were safely rescued by a Cormorant helicopter in a risky airlift operation.

After months on the rocks, the ship’s hull has suffered serious damage. A refloating operation is not possible in its current condition. Salvors are now focused on finishing the fuel and cargo removal before the hurricane season begins, which could increase the risk of further damage or pollution.

Local residents, especially those in Lark Harbour, are closely following the situation. Speaking to Canadian media, Mayor Wade Park said pollution is the community’s main concern. He explained that fishing is vital to the area’s economy, and any contamination of the water could be disastrous.

Reference: shippingtelegraph

Source: Maritime Shipping News