MSC Baltic III Grounding: Hull Breaches Confirmed, But Fuel Tanks Holding For Now
February 25, 2025
The containership MSC Baltic III remains firmly grounded on the seabed off Newfoundland’s coast following a power loss incident, with Canadian Coast Guard crews reporting no pollution despite significant hull breaches.
The vessel ran aground in Wild Cove, west of Lark Harbour, on Saturday, February 15, after losing power approximately 12 nautical miles from Bay of Islands, Newfoundland. Weather conditions prevented the crew from anchoring before the grounding.
“An assessment of the hull confirmed significant breaches or holes are present. The vessel appears to have settled firmly on the seabed, and is stable at this time,” stated Coast Guard officials.
Tank soundings have revealed approximately 1.7 million liters (50,000 gallons) of heavy fuel and marine gas oil remain aboard the vessel. The CCGS Jean Goodwill is maintaining position at the scene with spill response equipment ready for deployment.
All 20 crew members were safely evacuated by Cormorant helicopter immediately after the grounding. The vessel was carrying approximately 470 containers at the time of the incident, with more than half reported empty. The cargo consists primarily of food, lumber, and paper supplies.
Maritime authorities have established a two-nautical-mile restricted zone around the vessel, with drone operations currently prohibited due to ongoing helicopter activities. The vessel was en route from Montreal to Corner Brook, Newfoundland, when the incident occurred.
Response efforts face ongoing challenges due to adverse sea conditions, which have hampered various operations including safe vessel access. The salvage team continues their assessment of the MSC Baltic III as conditions permit, conducting further tank soundings and cargo hold inspections.
“No pollution has been observed,” Coast Guard officials emphasized following multiple shoreline and aerial assessments of the site.
The situation remains under close monitoring, with authorities promising additional updates as the response efforts evolve.
Mike Shuler
Transport Canada investing $87M towards Trois-Rivières terminal infrastructure projects
The Port of Trois-Rivières, QC, has received major funding of $87.1 million from Transport Canada as part of the National Trade Corridors Fund for the Terminal 16 and 17 project. This investment will make it possible to refurbish Pier 17, build a new Pier 16 and develop adjacent terminals, in addition to consolidating and enhancing the activities of two Port users, Alcoa and G3 Canada. Total investment will amount to $312 million.
This project will support the aluminum and agri-food industries, which are key sectors of the Quebec and Canadian economies. It also represents a unique opportunity to make improvements to the Port’s road and rail networks, and to introduce new technologies that will reduce waiting times for the various modes of transport, thus contributing to the efficiency of the supply chain.
The funding announcement was made today by François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice – Champlain.
The Port of Trois-Rivières will build the new wharves and terminals in collaboration with its partners, Alcoa and G3 Canada, who will install new loading and unloading equipment with improved energy, environmental and operational performance. The project also includes the redevelopment of traffic lanes to improve the flow of traffic to and from the Port.
It should also be noted that Quebec-based Pomerleau won the bid for tenders issued to contractors earlier this year. Work has begun and will continue until December 2026, when both terminals will be fully operational.
By Maritime Magazine
Great Lakes water levels drop below long-term average for first time in a decade
GREAT LAKES, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — The official start of spring is around the corner and before you know it, you’ll be back on the water and enjoying time at the beach. New data shows water levels on our Great Lakes are not the same as they were even a year ago.
Back in 2020, water levels on the Great Lakes rose to an all-time high causing a number of problems. Fast forward to 2025, this is no longer the case.
“We have over a hundred years of data, and Michigan-Huron has the same lake level across the whole area,” Michigan Sea Grant Extension Educator Mark Breederland said. “It’s actually gone below the long-term average for the first time in 10 years last fall.”
The fall of 2024 was so dry the lake levels dropped significantly.
According to the Detroit District US Army Corps of Engineers, our current Michigan-Huron levels are 7-9 inches below the long-term average and 10-13 inches below last year’s levels.
Breederland said this isn’t causing problems now, but that doesn’t mean we’re all clear.
“Most people in Michigan-Huron, plus or minus a foot from that long-term average is kind of the sweet spot,” Breederland said. “If we have a dry spring or summer and a big evaporation is coming fall, if it goes down a bit more, it might be problematic and more concerning.”
Some may wonder if all our snow this winter will help increase lake levels. But research shows that it normally does not.
“People that I know that work on the modeling of the Great Lakes say that it’s kind of a neutral impact,” Breederland said. “Although, I look at it a little bit and I think that some of that, when it melts, it’s going to go down into the groundwater through our sandy soils and help recharge the river systems. And so I think there’s a short-term loss a little bit in that, but in terms of the big picture, it’s probably relatively insignificant in terms of a factor.”
According to the forecast on the levels for the next six months, a very wet season can at least get us close to normal, but the most probable scenario suggests we will stay below average for the foreseeable future.
View the report here: https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/great-lakes-water-levels-drop-below-long-term-average-for-first-time-in-a-decade
Expensive to enter, easier to win: The St. Clair Rotary Club’s freighter trip contest
There’s nothing cheap about entering the St. Clair Rotary Club’s annual contest to win a trip for six aboard a Great Lakes freighter. One raffle ticket runs $600. But only 200 tickets will be sold.
“The St. Clair Rotary Club is currently rolling out its favorite longtime fund raiser,” announced Ralph Livingston III, president-elect of the club, on Feb. 6. “The raffle to win a trip for six adults on a Great Lakes freighter vessel is back. This has been a steady fund raiser for our club going back over 20 years. However, we could be nearing the end of this campaign, since the local power plants may not be coal-fired in the future.”
The trip is aboard one of nine self-unloading freighters owned by the Interlake Steamship Company, of Middleburg Heights, Ohio.
The winner and five companions will enjoy three staterooms, each designed for two people, on the multi-day journey. The winning passengers will feast on hearty freighter fare in the captain’s galley.
Four of the freighters in the Interlake fleet are 1,000 feet or longer, including the Paul R. Tregurtha, the longest freighter on the lakes at 1,013.5 feet – the Lakes’ so-called Queen; the Tregurtha has a cargo capacity of 68,000 gross tons and is powered by a 1,710-horsepower engine.
“We are taking this opportunity to generate capital for our newly established St Clair Rotary Club Endowment Fund,” said Livingston. The Community Foundation of St. Clair County will manage the fund. “The fund will help ensure the St Clair Rotary can continue to provide service projects well into the future,” he said.
The Interlake Steamship Company has been moving raw materials on the Lakes to fuel the Midwest’s industries for more than a century. It is the largest privately-owned U.S.-flagged fleet on the Lakes.
“This raffle is a great opportunity for anyone interested in a trip of a lifetime,” said Livingston. “These trips cannot be purchased and they are highly sought after by enthusiasts of the Great Lakes cargo vessels.”
Ticket purchases may be made online. “The Freighter Raffle is now live and ready for ticket sales,” said Livingston. “The link to the web page is very informative and provides direct access to the ticket sales: https://greatlakesfreighterraffle.com/. Your ticket will be generated from the site.”
The winner will be selected during the Rotary’s Gala at the Boardwalk Theatre in St. Clair on April 26, 2025, at 7:00 pm.
“You do not need to be present to win,” Livingston said. “You will receive an email confirmation with a unique ticket number for the drawing. The winner receives six passes (three staterooms) for a Great Lakes Freighter Trip on an Interlake Freighter between Memorial and Labor Day, 2025.
Help Wanted: Interlake Logistics
Solutions Seeking Chief Engineer
The Interlake Logistics Solutions team has an immediate need for an experienced Chief Engineer Limited.
More details about the position, pay and schedule can be found via the link below. You can apply directly through through ADP and if you have additional questions and genuine interest, you can reach directly to General Manager Chuck Leonard at 231-590-8695 or cleonard@interlakems.com
