Article content“We got a bad wind storm coming tonight, tomorrow … but we knew that was going to happen at some point,” said English. “The crew made the best use of their time through the summer months and the early fall to get as much off as possible. We’re dealing with a complex situation with a 207-metre vessel sitting on the rocks in an exposed environment, so they’ve done a lot.” Article content The sea conditions at the site of the MSC Baltic III around Nov. 6-7, 2025 were the worst since the ship ran aground at Cedar Cove in western Newfoundland in a vicious snowstorm on Feb. 15, 2025. Lee CochraneArticle contentCONCERNS OF BREAKING UPArticle contentEnglish said the stern of the ship had already been listing by around three or four degrees and it’s clear that has also worsened. Article contentHe hopes the crew can get a better assessment of that damage in the limited time they have Monday. Article content“I don’t know by how much (the list has worsened) exactly, but you can see by the eye that it’s visibly down lower in the water,” he said of the rear section of the MSC Baltic III. Article contentWith photos of the waves crashing over the ship and the stern sitting lower in the water, talk on social media is rampant about concerns the ship will break apart. Article contentArticle contentEnglish said that has been the coast guard and the salvage crew’s concern since Feb. 15. Article content“The vessel is not going to get better,” said English. “As the wind and the waves pound the vessel, we’re probably going to see more (movement and damage). If you can tell me when she’s going to break apart, we’d be in good shape, but we can’t. Article content“I don’t know how long the vessel will last but we’re hoping for the best and expecting the worst.” Article content Seas calmed somewhat after the early November 2025 storm show the stern of the MSC Baltic III now sitting lower in the water. Photo by Donna VandeVeldeArticle contentSTILL FOCUSED ON REMOVING POLLUTANTSArticle contentEnglish said the main goal will remain the removal of all potential pollutants on the days when the crews are able to safely access the ship. Article content“You can’t just go out there and put a big lot of new equipment on the deck of that boat today, expecting 100 kilometres winds tomorrow,” said English. “So, we’re working with the response organization to ensure that there’s a reasonable response ready. If there’s days that we can get on the vessel, we want them on the vessel continuing to remove anything that could be a potential source of pollution.” Article contentArticle contentHe said there are still tanks and drums below the deck that need to be cleaned out. The next step of moving them to the deck for eventual removal off the ship is the challenge with the threats of inclement weather as winter approaches. Article contentIt has already been determined that the MSC Baltic III will not be moved until at least next spring. The outer hull of the double-hulled ship has been damaged from colliding with the rocky shoreline in February, but an assessment of the inner hull has not been possible because of cargo and water in the holds below deck. Article content It is believed that the cableway system set up to transport crew members from the shoreline out to the bow of the MSC Baltic III and back was not damaged by the recent inclement weather that has further damaged the ship wrecked at Cedar Cove in western Newfoundland. Photo by Donna VandeVeldeArticle contentCABLEWAY HOPEFULLY OKArticle contentCrews recently completed building a cableway so crews could access the ship during rough sea conditions. Article contentThe system involves a cage that can carry personnel from the shoreline to the bow of the MSC Baltic III via a cable stretching out to the ship. Article contentEnglish said preliminary observations have indicated that the system seems to have not been damaged by the recent stormy weather. Article content“The waves weren’t breaking in on the bow and were mostly over the wheelhouse and stern and across the deck,” said English. “So, we’re hoping that the cableway is still operable. They had just started moving people over on that on Wednesday as a test.” Article content
Taking a beating: MSC Baltic III further damaged in worst conditions since its grounding
