A container vessel, MSC Baltic III, stranded on Newfoundland’s western shore, sustained damage from severe winds and storm surges in the region recently, as reported by the Canadian Coast Guard. According to an update released by the agency on Friday, the adverse weather conditions caused notable deterioration on the vessel’s port side, with significant movements observed in both the bow and stern.
The ship had initially run aground in Cedar Cove near Lark Harbour on the island’s west coast in February. Cleanup and salvage operations have been ongoing since then. Last week, Bruce English, a senior response officer from the Canadian Coast Guard’s Marine Environmental and Hazards Section, estimated that the vessel might not be refloated until the following summer at the earliest due to the remaining oil in its tanks.
On Friday, the salvage team reported equipment damage aboard the Baltic III, along with visible debris floating in the water and along the shoreline. Crews were on-site on Saturday to assess the extent of the damages and devise a plan for further actions.
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