Latest news with #MarineCommunicationsandTrafficServicesCentre
CBC
18-02-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Rescuing crew of ship run aground in Lark Harbour 'one of the most challenging things I've done', pilot says
The successful rescue of 20 people aboard a cargo vessel run aground in Lark Harbour, N.L., resulted in a happy ending Sunday, but one of the helicopter's pilots says it didn't come easy. Early Saturday morning, the Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre in nearby Channel-Port aux Basques received a mayday from the MSC Baltic III about 22 kilometres off the entrance to the Bay of Islands. At that time, the ship reported a loss of power. The cause of the outage isn't known. Royal Canadian Air Force Capt. Matthew Cox of the 103 Search and Rescue Squadron, based in Gander, was one of the pilots who flew the rescue helicopter. He told CBC News that crews knew hoisting the 20 men would be a challenge — especially when you add a snowstorm and blizzard-like conditions into the mix. "The crew and myself had to blend a lot of the procedures that we have to try and find the best solution because of where the vessel was, where the helicopter had to hoist," Cox said Monday. "As the flying pilot on the right side of the cockpit … I had to trim the helicopter out and basically hand fly it from start to finish, which is probably one of the most challenging things I've done as a pilot." Luckily, Cox said each crew member was able to be hoisted safely. Four men were in need of medical assistance but stable, he said. "It was pretty special to see fathers and brothers just able to go back to their families, which is pretty awesome," Cox said. Melanie Joyce watched the rescue from the shore. She said it felt like something out of a movie. "The wind … you could barely stand up," Joyce told CBC News Sunday. "They sent down, I think it was four men, and shortly after they start airlifting the men off.... It was pretty amazing to see." Windy conditions could also play a factor in cleanup efforts. Lark Harbour and much of Newfoundland's west coast remain under a wind warning on Monday. Winds are expected to reach around 60 km/h, but could gust to 120 km/h in areas prone to enhanced easterly winds. The vessel was scheduled to arrive into Corner Brook, but Port of Corner Brook business development manager Jennifer Crane said weather likely played a factor in its ability to do so. "It all depends on the water conditions. I mean, there's a lot of variables that come into play," Crane said. Bruce English, part of the Canadian Coast Guard's Marine Environmental and Hazards Response team, said Sunday that options for removing the ship are still under consideration. "Once the crew is removed and the safety of life is handled, our biggest concern is with the environment. The vessel's propulsion fuel is diesel, marine diesel, and it's against the shoreline there now," he said Sunday. English said there aren't signs of contaminate in the water as of Sunday.
CBC
15-02-2025
- General
- CBC
Crew rescued after cargo vessel runs aground on Newfoundland's west coast
The MSC Baltic III has run aground near Lark Harbour, N.L. All crew members of the MSC Baltic III have been rescued after their vessel ran aground close to the Lark Harbour shoreline off Newfoundland and Labrador's west coast. Early Saturday morning, the Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre in nearby Channel-Port aux Basques received a mayday from the cargo ship, around 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) off the entrance to the Bay of Islands. At that time, the ship reported a loss of power. Conditions were not in their favour. A winter storm warning was in effect in the region at the time of the incident, with winds up to 120 km/h. Ferry crossings to Nova Scotia from nearby Port aux Basques had been cancelled for the day. As such, the crew were unable to secure an anchor, leaving them adrift. According to the Canadian Coast Guard, shortly after losing power the ship ran aground in Wild Cove, west of Lark Harbour, with 20 crew members aboard. Photos and video posted to social media show the vessel against the rocks, close to the cliffs. Premier Andrew Furey confirmed this morning that all 20 crew members had been safely evacuated. The crew were airlifted from the Baltic III via Cormorant helicopter. The Halifax Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre said they were alerted of the full power blackout on the vessel this morning. In a social media post, they said "thanks to 103 and 413 #SAR Squadrons' swift response, all 20 crew were airlifted to safety." The Canadian Coast Guard ship Henry Larsen was in the area and search and rescue aircraft, including a Cormorant helicopter also joined the rescue effort. The incident occurred on the anniversary of the Ocean Ranger disaster, during which 84 men lost their lives. The cause of the lost of power aboard MSC Baltic III is not yet known.
