Removal of MSC Baltic III Wreck in Canada Passes the Halfway Mark
The latest update from the Canadian Coast Guard, which is monitoring the removal operation for the wreck of the MSC Baltic III containership, shows strong progress. The effort being led by Resolve Marine has passed the halfway mark based on the tonnage of the vessel, while images show the hull stripped down and broken apart.
On September 27, the bow and midship sections of the MSC Baltic III were successfully pulled an additional 42 meters (approximately 138 feet) to shore. The vessel had measured 207 meters (679 feet) when it was in operation and 33,767 dwt. The dismantling operation accelerated during the summer with the removal of the deckhouse, machinery, and upper portions of the vessel.
A large portion of the bow section was removed from the MSC Baltic III on September 9 and pulled onto shore. Since then, the hull has been split near where the vessel cracked after it was driven ashore in 2025. The Coast Guard highlights that pulling the forward section toward the shoreline is making it accessible from the scrap pad. A large crane was positioned on the pad for lifting sections of the hull, which are being trucked away for recycling.
While the cutting and removal operations are ongoing, the Coast Guard reports that as of the beginning of October, the total tonnage removed from the wreck is approximately 6,086 tonnes. It is close to 55 percent of the vessel's total tonnage.
The stern section of the wreck remains in the water and is being prepared for pulling operations.
Comparison showing the hull at the beginning of September (Canadian Coast Guard)
MSC Baltic III in early July 2026 (Canadian Coast Guard)
As the operation proceeds, they are cleaning the tanks and lines to remove residual fuel. The Coast Guard also reports that the absorbent boom remains in place to help prevent the release of pollution.
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Resolve Marine, which was hired by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and the insurance companies, had previously said it would continue the work until winter weather overtakes the region. Its goal was to clear as much of the vessel as possible before the winter, but it expected there would be a final cleanup and restoration of the shoreline in 2027.
The MSC Baltic III had lost power on February 15, 2025, during a winter storm while it was approximately 12 nautical miles offshore. The ship was driven into the cover and up onto the shore, and Canadian forces organized a challenging helicopter rescue to remove the 20 crewmembers from the vessel. It came to rest on the shoreline of Newfoundland, with the first phase of the salvage operation focusing on removing the approximately 470 containers, over half of which are empty, as well as the approximately 1.7 million liters of heavy fuel and marine gas oil.
