Salvors have removed a large section of the bow from grounded containership MV MSC Baltic III in Newfoundland, Canada. The section was hauled ashore for dismantling and recycling.
The operation marks a major milestone in the wreck removal project. Salvors have now removed about 5,700 tonnes of the vessel, close to half of its total tonnage.
The 207-metre containership has remained stranded at Cedar Cove, west of Corner Brook, since February 2025. It lost power during a winter storm and went aground. Canadian forces evacuated the crew at the time.
Salvors first removed the vessel’s cargo, fuel and potential pollutants. They then began dismantling the ship itself this spring. Resolve Marine is carrying out the work under Canadian Coast Guard supervision.
After separating the bow section from the remaining hull, the salvage team pulled it onto the shoreline. Workers will cut the section into smaller pieces before sending it for recycling.
Twelve 300-tonne chain pullers are moving the remaining hull towards the shoreline. The wreck has moved about 53 metres since the start of August. Salvors carry out the work during high tides to increase buoyancy and help move the hull.
Workers have already removed the upper sections of the ship. These include hatch covers, deck machinery, cranes and the deckhouse with the bridge.
A reinforced scrap pad is also ready on the shoreline. It will support a crane during the next stages of the operation.
The Coast Guard reported about 4,200 tonnes removed earlier in September. The latest work has increased that figure to about 5,700 tonnes.
Salvage operations will continue through the autumn, weather permitting. The site is expected to enter caretaker mode over winter, with work resuming in spring.
Resolve Marine expects the project to continue into 2027. The schedule also includes restoration of the shoreline after the wreck removal.
The Canadian Coast Guard said the operation has so far avoided major pollution of the surrounding environment.
