22 crewmembers from the Cido-controlled roro Modern Express were rescued by Spanish Search & Rescue helicopters on Tuesday evening.
were rescued by Spanish Search & Rescue helicopters on Tuesday evening.In a statement, the Spanish coastguard (Salvamento Marítimo) confirmed it had rescued the 22 seafarers after the Modern Express had sounded the alarm 148 miles off Cape Ortegal in Galicia.
“The ship, 163 metres long, was listing up to 40 degrees, which together with the weather, with force 8 southwesterly winds and very high seas with heavy waves, meant they decided to request evacuation, made more difficult by the great distance from land at which they found themselves”, said the statement.
The ship was en route from from Gabon to Le Havre when a shift in the cargo caused the list.
Three Spanish rescue helicopters and a rescue plane were scrambled immediately, and six nearby ships were ordered to approach the area.
The vessel has now drifted into the French search and rescue area and is being dealt with by the French authorities who will look to tow it to shore as it is in a key shipping lane.
