The 164 meter long, 10454 dwt ro-ro car carrier Modern Express became disabled in the Bay of Biscay while en route to Le Havre, France. The Modern Express was loaded with a cargo of vehicles and 3,700 tons of wood from Owendo, Gabon when it suffered a cargo shift.  The shift caused the car carrier to develop a heavy starboard list of 40 degrees.  The crew requested assistance and a helicopter was dispatched by Spanish authorities.  All 22 crew on board the car carrier was air lifted to safety.  A tug arrived on scene and was monitoring the situation. Reports state the owners  of the Modern Express have arranged to have a salvage firm to assess the risks and evaluate salvage options while the vessel remains far off the coast.