Crew Rescued After MSC Containership Blacks Out in Storm

Canada’s Marine Communications and Traffic Services received a distress call on Saturday from the MSC Baltic III after it ran aground about 12 nautical miles outside the entrance to Bay of Islands, Newfoundland and Labrador. The vessel had lost power and was unable to anchor in the adverse conditions, leading it to ground in Wild Cove west of Lark Harbour. 

Multiple Canadian teams responded to a distress call from the MSC containership, MSC Baltic III, during a severe winter storm on February 15. The vessel lost power and was unable to anchor in the strong winds and high seas off the coast of Newfoundland. A Canadian SAR helicopter successfully rescued the 20 crew members, with reports indicating that five of them sustained injuries. The ship, en route to the Bahamas from Newfoundland, was stranded near Lark Harbor on the western coast of Newfoundland.

The MSC Baltic III, a 33,767 dwt vessel registered in Liberia and operated by NordBaltic for MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, was built in 2003 and has a capacity of 2,478 TEU. The 679-foot-long ship was driven ashore in Wild Cove after losing power. The Canadian Coast Guard vessel Henry Larsen and local emergency teams responded to the distress call, with the SAR helicopter conducting the successful rescue operation. Efforts are underway to reach the stranded vessel and mobilize resources for assistance.

The rescue operation was carried out amidst harsh weather conditions, with winds reaching up to 75 mph and seas as high as 20 feet. The crew of the MSC Baltic III faced challenging circumstances before being safely evacuated. The Canadian SAR team’s swift response and coordination with local emergency services ensured the timely rescue of the crew members, highlighting the importance of preparedness and collaboration in maritime emergencies.

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