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Drifting unmanned cargo ship set to hit French coast if final rescue bid fails Drifting unmanned cargo ship set to hit French coast if final rescue bid fails
(7 months later)
A team of experts are expected to make a final attempt on Monday to salvage a cargo ship adrift off the coast of France for five days before it runs aground.A team of experts are expected to make a final attempt on Monday to salvage a cargo ship adrift off the coast of France for five days before it runs aground.
High winds and six-metre (20ft) waves made rescue attempts over the weekend impossible.High winds and six-metre (20ft) waves made rescue attempts over the weekend impossible.
Vice Admiral Emmanuel De Oliveira of the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture said a final effort to attach a towing cable to the 164m (540ft) vessel, which is listing at a steep angle, is set for dawn on Monday. If that failed, he said, the vessel would run aground in south-west France by Tuesday night.Vice Admiral Emmanuel De Oliveira of the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture said a final effort to attach a towing cable to the 164m (540ft) vessel, which is listing at a steep angle, is set for dawn on Monday. If that failed, he said, the vessel would run aground in south-west France by Tuesday night.
Spanish helicopters evacuated the 22 crew members on Tuesday last week after the Modern Express, carrying 3,600 tonnes of wood and equipment, sent out a distress call.Spanish helicopters evacuated the 22 crew members on Tuesday last week after the Modern Express, carrying 3,600 tonnes of wood and equipment, sent out a distress call.
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The vessel was drifting south and by Sunday afternoon it was 100km (60 miles) off the coast of the holiday town of Arcachon, south of Bordeaux. If not put in tow, it is expected to run aground further south, in the Landes region, De Oliveira told a news conference.The vessel was drifting south and by Sunday afternoon it was 100km (60 miles) off the coast of the holiday town of Arcachon, south of Bordeaux. If not put in tow, it is expected to run aground further south, in the Landes region, De Oliveira told a news conference.
He said he expected only “limited” environmental impact if the Panama-registered vessel hit the coast because the cargo was mainly wood and there were so far no signs of leaking of its 300 tonnes of fuel.He said he expected only “limited” environmental impact if the Panama-registered vessel hit the coast because the cargo was mainly wood and there were so far no signs of leaking of its 300 tonnes of fuel.
Experts from the Dutch company Smit Salavage were called in to try to capture the drifting vessel, helped by two Spanish tugboats and a French ship.Experts from the Dutch company Smit Salavage were called in to try to capture the drifting vessel, helped by two Spanish tugboats and a French ship.
It is “totally impossible put the cargo ship upright”, De Oliveira said.It is “totally impossible put the cargo ship upright”, De Oliveira said.