Another storm this week, and another on the way, is cause for concern for those involved in the Baltic III salvage operations in Cedar Cove near Lark Harbour.

Heavy waves and high winds that pounded the cargo vessel late last week resulted in a much more noticeable buckle in the hull in the same place where damage was caused when she initially ran aground last February.

The bow and stern were moving independently of each other in the wave action.

The Canadian Coast Guard is overseeing the salvage effort, which is being carried out by a private company. The Coast Guard’s Bruce English says crews were able to board the vessel after last week’s storm to assess the damage.

He says the salvage crew removed some of its equipment that was strapped down, but damaged by the waves.

He says “Coast Guard crew did have an opportunity on Monday to board the vessel and go beneath the decks and they did observe some structural damage that was visible to the bulkheads and framing.”

English says the situation with the vessel is not going to get any better as it continues to get a pounding now that the winter has arrived.

He says the rudder stock and other parts of the stern have “flattened out” and the vessel is tipped back a little further, with more water in the stern. “That’s kind of a good thing,” says English, “because there’s more weight there. The list to the port has increased somewhat – it’s in the range of 7 to 8 degrees.” He says the only thing they can do now is keep the weight on it, buckle up the hatches, and close water-tight doors. “Where it’s sitting there now, it’s quite limited in what the salvage company can do.”