Dismantling has begun on the wreck of the containership MSC Baltic III off Newfoundland, with crews preparing to separate the vessel and pull its forward section ashore.
The Canadian Coast Guard said activity at the remote site has increased and advised the public to remain clear of the area while salvage work continues.
Resolve Marine was appointed this spring to carry out the removal and remediation phase. MSC and its insurers retained the company this year for the wreck removal work.
Crews are seeking to complete as much of the operation as possible during the summer before winter weather reaches the region.
Work has started on dismantling the vessel’s accommodation block. Sections are being removed from the hull and taken to a nearby facility for recycling. The upper section of the funnel has also been placed on a barge.
The Canadian Coast Guard said 471 of the 472 cargo containers onboard MSC Baltic III have been removed. Most were recovered in 2025, while the remaining containers were mainly waterlogged in the holds or deformed.
The final container is too badly deformed to be removed separately. It contains waterlogged newsprint and will remain aboard until it is handled during the dismantling process.
Containers in the holds included rotting foodstuffs that were producing noxious gases. With the cargo removed, hydrogen sulfide levels aboard the vessel are expected to decline. Salvage personnel have been taking precautions while working on the wreck.
A water treatment system has been installed and is undergoing testing. It will be used to drain and treat water accumulated in the cargo holds, where the hatch covers have already been removed.
The vessel had previously broken near midship. In the next phase, the salvage team plans to separate the bow section near the existing break and use large chain pulls to bring it ashore.
After the forward section is pulled ashore, it will undergo further remediation and be dismantled into sections that can be transported for recycling. The Canadian Coast Guard told The Telegram that the goal is to bring the forward section ashore by the end of July.
The Canadian Coast Guard continues to monitor the work carried out by Resolve Marine. The aim is to complete a large portion of the operation before winter, although final remediation may continue into 2027.
