Modern Express Rescue

On January 2016, the Modern Express, a Panamanian-flag Roll-on/Roll-off vessel built in 2001 and 164 meters long operating for the South Korean Cido shipping company, was in route from Gabon to Le Havre in France loaded with wood logs.

On January 26th when was in the Bay of Biscay some 150 nautical miles off La Coruña (northwestern Spain) lost stability in heavy weather and issued a distress call as the ship was about to capsize. The 22 crew members were evacuated by Spanish and French helicopters. A team of dedicated salvage experts from SMIT Salvage was on the scene within 24 hours and was able to prevent an environmental disaster from taking place. The ship was towed to the Bilbao port and finally to Aliağa in Turkey to be dismantled.