A crew of 22 people were evacuated after the Panama-flagged car carrier Modern Express started listing some 148 miles off Cape Ortegal, Galicia, in the Bay of Biscay, according to Spanish search and rescue agency Salvamento Maritimo.
The crew raised an alarm on Tuesday afternoon as the 10,454 dwt ship developed a heavy list of about 40 degrees in inclement weather with force 8 south-westerly winds and heavy seas.
All crew members were evacuated by helicopters and subsequently flown to A Coruña and Celeiro in Galicia.
Salvamento Maritimo added that no injuries were reported.
The 2001-built Modern Express, owned by European RoRo Lines, was on its way from Gabon, Africa to Le Havre, France when it started listing.
The vessel is currently drifting in a busy shipping lane, and is expected to be removed from the area before tomorrow morning.
World Maritime News Staff