MSC Baltic III grounding

What happened — short overview

The MSC Baltic III lost power on 15 February 2025 and ran aground in a remote area off the west coast of Newfoundland (Wild Cove / Lark Harbour), during severe weather.
All 20 crew members were safely evacuated by helicopter shortly after the grounding, avoiding any major casualties.
Early inspections revealed “significant” damage to the hull. The vessel cannot be refloated under present conditions.
The ship carried roughly 1.6 – 1.7 million liters of heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil at grounding — a major environmental hazard.
Because of the damage and risk, the salvage plan focused on removing all fuel and cargo, rather than refloating the vessel.

By July 2025, salvage crews had removed about 85% of the heavy fuel aboard MSC Baltic III. A substantial portion of containers (208 of 472, at that time) had also been offloaded.
On-water and shoreline surveillance remained active — some minor oil observations were noted, tar stains and small tar balls along nearby shorelines.
During spring 2025, shoreline surveys recovered tar balls on beaches near the grounding site. Tests did not definitively confirm those came from the wreck, but the risk remained.
By August, salvage authorities reported that the “bulk of oil” had been removed from internal tanks and that efforts focused on extracting residual fuel. 333 containers had been removed by then; the rest remained on board.

As of early November 2025, heavy storms and severe weather battered the wreck site. The vessel suffered additional structural damage: crews reported visible movement at the bow and stern, changes to the port side hull, and damage to salvage equipment.
The storms have forced salvage operations to pause. On-water and container-removal activity has been stalled until conditions improve.
Local residents, fishermen and communities around Newfoundland express growing worry. They describe the wreck as a “ticking environmental time bomb,” concerned that if the vessel breaks up, debris and any residual pollutants could wash ashore and harm fisheries and the coastline. Maritime Executive+1
Structural assessment on 14 November 2025 showed visible internal damage: bulkheads and framing around a water-ballast tank sustained damage below deck. The contracted salvor company is re-evaluating whether existing salvage plans remain viable, and if additional containment or recovery measures are needed.

Even though most fuel and much of the cargo have been removed, MSC Baltic III remains grounded and structurally unstable. The recent storm damage increases the risk that the hull could break up — a serious concern for the environment and coastal communities.
Salvage work currently is on hold until weather allows safe access again. That means any remaining oil or cargo still aboard may remain a hazard for weeks or months.
Authorities continue regular shoreline and water-column surveys. They also keep a restricted “response zone” around the wreck to protect salvage crews and the public.
Local stakeholders (fishermen, coastal residents) maintain pressure on authorities and the ship’s owner for a swift and safe resolution, because further delay could worsen environmental and socioeconomic impacts.

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