Weather conditions have hampered initial salvage operations for box ship MSC Baltic III, which lost power and grounded on Canada’s east coast
The Canadian Coast Guard has provided an update on the status of container ship MSC Baltic III, which grounded near Wild Cove off Newfoundland and Labrador provinces on Canada’s east coast.
The coast guard said weather and sea conditions were posing a problem for operations on the water, but its crews were continuing to assess the grounded box ship from shore and in aerial fly-overs and had seen no pollution.
The coast guard said MSC had put forward a set of options that may help salvage operations to progress.
“MSC has put forward options to remove fuel and cargo from the vessel, both by sea and land. A combination of these options may be used. These options include the use of a tug and barge along with portable tanks, as well as possible ground transport through upgrades and extensions of the road to provide access to the MSC Baltic III. If the road is constructed, it would also help alleviate the impact sea conditions have on removal operations,” the coast guard said.
The salvage company is mobilising the necessary equipment to heat and remove the heavy oil from the fuel tanks, and they have reported that the shipboard cranes are operational and can be used to offload the vessel’s stranded cargo.
Currently on scene are 14 response crew, a 26-foot pollution response vessel (PRV) and Rosborough vessel, as well as the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Jean Goodwill. The coast guard said it had ferried to the site a response trailer, four medium hauler vehicles, a medium-high speed sweep, two deck tanks, 800 m of ro-boom, all-terrain vehicles, and 14 clump weight anchors.
28 February
The Canadian Coast Guard continues to update on its salvage response to the grounded container ship MSC Baltic III.
The coast guard’s latest update said the vessel ’cannot be safely refloated,’ in its current condition.
In earlier reports (below), the coast guard said the vessel’s hull has been broken or holed in places, likely from the grounding and nearly two weeks spent against a rocky shoreline in what the coast guard continually refers to as difficult sea and weather conditions.
“The salvage team is continuing their assessment of MSC Baltic III, as sea conditions allow, and are developing the salvage plan.Given the vessel’s current condition, it cannot be safely refloated. The initial focus will be on the removal of the fuel and cargo,” the coast guard update said.
A cargo manifest provided by MSC “indicates the cargo contains some materials listed as dangerous goods.” According to the manifest, the potentially dangerous goods include items listed under fabrics, food products, metals and polymeric beads. Polymeric beads are non-biodegradable and can become microplastics that pose a threat to acquatic organisms and the wider food chain.
24 February
After revealing the vessel’s hull was ’deformed’, further visual assessments and soundings of the vessel’s structure have shown the box ship has ’significant breaches or holes’.
“The vessel appears to have settled firmly on the seabed, and is stable at this time. Tank soundings have confirmed approximately 1.7M litres of heavy fuel and marine gas oil on board the vessel. No pollution has been observed,” the coast guard reported.
Canadian Coast Guard vessel CCGS Jean Goodwill is stationed at the scene of the grounding, with oil spill response equipment on board, but the coast guard said poor weather conditions have remained a problem more than a week after the vessel lost power and grounded.
“Sea conditions hampered some operations over the weekend including the ability to safely access the vessel.
The salvage team is continuing their assessment of MSC Baltic III as sea conditions allow. It includes further tank soundings and inspections of cargo holds,” the coast guard said.
21 February
Sea conditions continue to hamper some operations including the ability to deploy response equipment in the grounding of box ship MSC Baltic III off Canada’s eastern seaboard.
The Canadian Coast Guard said its crews continue to assess MSC Baltic III from the shoreline and by air.
“No pollution has been observed. A preliminary report from the salvage team indicates there is an oily water mixture in the engineroom and water in some cargo holds. A dive team is onsite and confirmed that 75% of the vessel’s hull is resting on the seabed. A deformation in the hull of MSC Baltic III has also been observed,” the coast guard’s latest report, from 20 February, said.
The coast guard’s CCGS Jean Goodwill vessel is at the scene of the vessel with additional response equipment, and the salvage team is continuing their assessment of MSC Baltic III as sea conditions allow.
