According to the latest update from the Canadian Coast Guard, salvage crews have removed about 85% of the heavy fuel from the containership MSC Baltic III and transferred to other MSC vessels. The containership has been grounded since February 15 after losing power near Wild Cove, Newfoundland.
Fuel removal operations remain a priority. Efforts are focused on removing oil from the engine room and smaller tanks onboard the vessel. The ship was carrying some 1.7 million liters of heavy fuel and marine gas oil at the time of the incident.
“The EEMS Dublin (general cargo ship) remains in the area to facilitate the transfer of personnel and containers,” the Canadian Coast Guard said. “An additional 36 cargo containers have been removed from the MSC Baltic III. As of this update, 208 of the 472 containers onboard the grounded vessel have been removed.
“On water and shoreline surveys continue. Minor oil observations, such as tar stains and small tar balls, continue to be recorded in Cedar Cove and nearby shorelines.”
An emergency and drone restriction zone extending one nautical mile around the cargo ship has been established to ensure the safety of response personnel and the public.
All 20 crew members were safely evacuated by helicopter rapidly after the grounding incident. The vessel’s cargo consisted mainly of food, lumber, and paper supplies, and more than half of the containers were reported as empty. The MSC Baltic III was en route to Corner Brook from Montreal when the incident occurred.
(Photo courtesy of Canadian Coast Guard)