Cargo ship adrift off French coast

SPECTACULAR footage has been released of an abandoned cargo vessel that has almost capsized in the Bay of Biscay off La Rochelle, three days after its crew of 22 were airlifted to safety.

The 34,000-tonne Modern Express, which was en route from Gabon to Le Havre, raised the alarm on Tuesday when it started to list after its cargo shifted during a heavy storm.

Another video shows Spanish Search & Rescue helicopters rescuing the Panama-registered vessel’s crewmembers on Tuesday evening off Cape Ortegal in Galicia. Sea conditions were said to be ‘very difficult’ at the time.

The abandoned ship has since drifted north into the Bay of Biscay to the west of La Rochelle.

“The only danger of the Modern Express is for navigation. It is still very far from the coast and carries no hazardous cargo or is liable to cause pollution,” a local French maritime official told reporters.

A French navy frigate arrived yesterday in the area to attempt to secure the vessel and tow it to safety - but conditions were too dangerous for crew to attempt to board the stricken cargo ship, the Préfet Maritime Atlantique said last night.