Salvage teams are facing significant challenges in removing fuel from the MSC Baltic III, which has been grounded near Cedar Cove, Newfoundland, since February 15, 2025. The vessel lost power and became stranded, and efforts to extract its fuel have been hampered by persistent rough spring weather and the remote, exposed location.
As of early May, approximately 230 cubic meters of fuel had been offloaded from the ship. Of this, 195 cubic meters were transferred to the MSC Celine, a 2,732 TEU containership operated by the same company. The remaining fuel was stored in frac tanks on a barge positioned alongside the MSC Baltic III. The transfer process is complex: the oil must be heated to facilitate pumping from the ship’s internal tanks to the frac tanks on deck. Once filled, these tanks are too heavy to lift directly and require reheating and pumping into the barge’s storage tanks. Currently, four frac tanks are full and awaiting favorable weather conditions for the next phase of the transfer.
The Canadian Coast Guard has confirmed that the ongoing adverse weather continues to impede salvage operations. The situation underscores the difficulties inherent in maritime salvage efforts, particularly in challenging environmental conditions.
