MSC Baltic III hull buckling visible on starboard and port sides, Cedar Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Photo courtesy Canadian Coast Guard
Winter Storms Continue to Batter Grounded MSC Baltic III, Coast Guard Warns
Winter Storms Continue to Batter Grounded MSC Baltic III, Coast Guard Warns
Mike Schuler
January 13, 2026
Nearly a year after running aground on Newfoundland’s west coast, the container ship MSC Baltic III remains at the mercy of North Atlantic winter storms as salvage teams struggle to stabilize the battered vessel and contain ongoing pollution risks.
The 207-meter ship lost power and grounded near Wild Cove in the Bay of Islands on February 15, 2025, during severe winter weather. All 20 crew members were rescued by Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter shortly after the incident.
In its latest update, the Canadian Coast Guard said persistent winter conditions continue to restrict access to the wreck, slowing salvage operations. Crews have installed a cableway system from shore to reach the vessel when weather allows, but opportunities remain limited.
“As crews gain access to the grounded vessel, they continue assessing the condition of the MSC Baltic III,” the Coast Guard said in its latest update. “Salvage crews continue to remove oily debris from the engine room and are preparing for skimming operations to remove the oily water mixture that remains on the vessel following recent storms.”
Conditions worsened after a series of powerful storms in early December. Inspections on December 7 and 8 revealed new steel plate buckling on both sides of the hull, with the stern settling noticeably lower in the water. The ship has since suffered multiple hull breaches and has partially settled onto the seabed, effectively ruling out any straightforward refloating effort.
At the time of the grounding, the ship was carrying heavy fuel oil, marine gas oil, and about 470 containers, many of them empty. Although crews have removed most of the remaining fuel and offloaded hundreds of boxes, as of December there were still 65 containers trapped below deck and submerged. Those units must be lifted, drained, and removed — a complex operation that can only proceed in calm conditions.
Environmental concerns are mounting. The Coast Guard says shoreline patrols and drone flights have detected increasing amounts of oiled debris washing up on nearby beaches. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, but repeated storms, high seas, and strong winds continue to interrupt operations and further damage the vessel.
The Coast Guard is maintaining an emergency safety zone around the site and says it remains focused on stabilizing the wreck and minimizing pollution while preparing for the next phase of salvage when weather conditions finally ease.
January 13, 2026
Nearly a year after running aground on Newfoundland’s west coast, the container ship MSC Baltic III remains at the mercy of North Atlantic winter storms as salvage teams struggle to stabilize the battered vessel and contain ongoing pollution risks.
The 207-meter ship lost power and grounded near Wild Cove in the Bay of Islands on February 15, 2025, during severe winter weather. All 20 crew members were rescued by Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter shortly after the incident.
In its latest update, the Canadian Coast Guard said persistent winter conditions continue to restrict access to the wreck, slowing salvage operations. Crews have installed a cableway system from shore to reach the vessel when weather allows, but opportunities remain limited.
“As crews gain access to the grounded vessel, they continue assessing the condition of the MSC Baltic III,” the Coast Guard said in its latest update. “Salvage crews continue to remove oily debris from the engine room and are preparing for skimming operations to remove the oily water mixture that remains on the vessel following recent storms.”
Conditions worsened after a series of powerful storms in early December. Inspections on December 7 and 8 revealed new steel plate buckling on both sides of the hull, with the stern settling noticeably lower in the water. The ship has since suffered multiple hull breaches and has partially settled onto the seabed, effectively ruling out any straightforward refloating effort.
At the time of the grounding, the ship was carrying heavy fuel oil, marine gas oil, and about 470 containers, many of them empty. Although crews have removed most of the remaining fuel and offloaded hundreds of boxes, as of December there were still 65 containers trapped below deck and submerged. Those units must be lifted, drained, and removed — a complex operation that can only proceed in calm conditions.
Environmental concerns are mounting. The Coast Guard says shoreline patrols and drone flights have detected increasing amounts of oiled debris washing up on nearby beaches. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, but repeated storms, high seas, and strong winds continue to interrupt operations and further damage the vessel.
The Coast Guard is maintaining an emergency safety zone around the site and says it remains focused on stabilizing the wreck and minimizing pollution while preparing for the next phase of salvage when weather conditions finally ease.
gcaptain.com
