Salvage operations for the containership MSC Baltic III have entered a critical phase off the coast of Newfoundland, with crews now actively dismantling the vessel’s structure. According to the Canadian Coast Guard, the work has accelerated following the appointment of Resolve Marine to lead the removal and remediation efforts earlier this spring.
Crews are currently focusing on the removal of the accommodation block and funnel. Photographic evidence released by the Canadian Coast Guard shows sections of the funnel, bearing the MSC logo, being transported onto a barge for recycling. This stage of the operation is a race against the region’s harsh weather, as salvage teams aim to complete significant portions of the work before the winter season begins.
A major milestone in the cleanup was recently reached with the removal of nearly all cargo containers. Of the 471 containers retrieved, only one remains on the vessel. The Canadian Coast Guard reported to The Telegram that this final unit, which is severely deformed and filled with waterlogged newsprint, will be handled during the broader dismantling process. The removal of the containers is expected to mitigate the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas, which had previously posed safety risks to the salvage crews due to rotting foodstuffs in the holds.
The next phase of the project involves splitting the vessel into two sections. The ship had already sustained a break midship, and salvagers plan to separate the bow section to be pulled ashore using chain pulls. The goal is to have the forward section extracted by the end of July. Once ashore, the structure will be further dismantled for recycling. While the primary salvage work is expected to progress through the summer, the Canadian Coast Guard noted that final remediation efforts at the site may extend into 2027.