Modern Express

The 164 meter long, 10454 dwt ro-ro car carrier Modern Express was successfully towed to Bilbao, Spain. The car carrier had been adrift since January 26 after it suffered a cargo shift while in the Bay of Biscay en route to Le Havre, France. The Dutch salvage company Smit was later able to connect a towline on February 1st while the car carrier was off the coast of Mimizan, France. The tugs slowly towed the listing Modern Express to Bilboa where it safely docked. Investigators will board the vessel to inspect the cargo decks .

January 26, 2016 Paul Hancock

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.