Update (Monday Feb. 1, 2016): Modern Express Saved! Drifting Cargo Ship Under Tow in Bay of Biscay

Update (Sunday Jan. 31, 2016): Crews have began getting ready for the Modern Express’s attainable grounding if a tow line can’t be established within the subsequent 24 hours, officers stated Sunday. An replace at 15:00 native time stated the ship was situated 50 nautical miles west of Arcachon, France and drifting southeast at a velocity of simply over 2 knots. 

Weather circumstances have additional deteriorated since Saturday, with winds of 50 km/h and waves of 6 meters. Weather continues to stop salvors from boarding the vessel to determine a tow line at time of replace. According to Maritime Prefect, salvors will try to board the vessel once more on Monday morning when the subsequent favorable climate window is predicted in a final ditch effort to save lots of the ship earlier than it runs aground. 

In Pictures: The Amazing Race to Save the Modern Express

Officials estimate that the ship might run aground someday between Monday night time and Tuesday night time within the neighborhood of Landes division in France.

The ship is carrying 300 tons of diesel, in line with Maritime Prefect, however at this level all gas stays safe. The shoreline close to Landes is sandy, the company stated.

Maritime Prefect reported at 11:00 Sunday that the ship was situated at 59 nautical miles west Arcachon and winds had been gusting to 80 km/h.

For reference, on Saturday at 17:30 native time the vessel was roughly 108 nautical miles west of Gironde and drifting as much as 3 knots. 

From Saturday:

Quick replace right this moment on the on-going Modern Express state of affairs within the Bay of Biscay…

On Friday, a four-man group was in a position to board the itemizing vessel by helicopter, however they had been unable to determine a towing line earlier than disembarking by dusk. One of the salvors suffered minor accidents within the operation and has been evacuated from the realm.

As of Saturday, climate on the scene deteriorated with winds of Force 6 gusting to 70 km/h and waves of 4 to six meters, making one other try to board the vessel very dangerous.  

According to Maritime Prefect Atlantic, a group was as soon as once more hoisted onto the vessel for a short while to make preliminary preparations a tow as soon as a climate window presents itself. Another try to tow the vessel won’t be made till Sunday morning on the earliest. 

The location of the Modern Express as of 17:30 native time was roughly 108 nautical miles west of Gironde, France, drifting east in the direction of land at 2 to three knots. 

On scene are two tugs contracted by the ship proprietor, the French emergency tug Abeille Bourbon, the French Navy frigate Primauguet with a Lynx helicopter, and the AHTS Argonaute.

Background

The Panamanian-flagged pure automotive and truck provider (PCTC) Modern Express developed a extreme listing on Tuesday whereas underway within the Bay of Biscay on a voyage from Gabon, Africa to the port of Le Havre, France.

All 22 crew members had been evacuated by Spanish search and rescue helicopters. The ship entered French waters a short while after the rescue and has since been drifting east at a velocity of 1 to three knots. 

Ship proprietor Cido Shipping has employed SMIT Salvage to rescue the vessel.

It is carrying 3,600 tons of timber and building tools. 

For Latest Updates: Modern Express Adrift in Bay of Biscay