Panama flagged ship adrift in Bay of Biscay
A PANAMANIAN registered merchant ship is adrift in the Bay of Biscay, about 300 km off the French coast.
The crew of the “Modern Express”, carrying a cargo of lumber and construction machinery, was evacuated by helicopter on Tuesday. January 26 . The cargo ship is drifting with a strong list but apparently no water has entered.
On Friday a team of specialists from the Dutch company Smit Salvage, boarded in a dangerous operation to establish a “pass line” between the freighter and a tugboat. The line broke under the effect of the movement of both vessels caused by bad weather.
On Saturday and Sunday the weather was “degrading”, and the conditions for a new attempt are not favorable, French maritime officials said.
The “Modern Express” sent out a call for help on Tuesday afternoon after heeling, for reasons as yet undetermined, 270 km northwest of Spain. Its 22 crew were evacuated by Spanish helicopters in “very difficult” conditions.
