Authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador have approved the final plan to remove the grounded container ship MSC Baltic III off the Canadian coast.
The vessel will be dismantled into sections directly at the grounding site, with the hull pieces later transported ashore for recycling.
The method was selected to reduce environmental risks and avoid the challenges associated with refloating the heavily damaged vessel.
After months of assessment, officials concluded that dismantling the ship in place is the safest and most controlled solution.
The container ship ran aground in February last year. Several salvage options were considered, including refloating and towing operations, but severe structural damage and harsh Atlantic weather conditions made those alternatives less viable.
Salvage teams believe that dismantling the vessel on site will help prevent further structural collapse and reduce the spread of debris along the coastline.
Preparatory work has already begun, including site stabilization, pollution control measures, and securing the work area.
The next phase will involve cutting the hull into transportable sections using specialized heavy equipment.
During 2025, crews removed 409 out of 472 containers from the vessel, some of which contained hazardous cargo.
The remaining 63 containers, many of them damaged and flooded, are expected to be removed before the dismantling phase begins.
The operation is being carried out by Resolve Marine, while earlier fuel and cargo removal operations were conducted by T&T Salvage.
The entire project is expected to take several months, depending on weather and sea conditions.
