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Salvage operation to tow cargo ship off French coast successful: report

Xinhua, February 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

Maritime experts on Monday succeeded in towing the stricken cargo Modern Express to port in a last salvage operation to avoid it crashing into French coasts, local media reported Monday.

"The last chance operation is a success. The convoy is now heading west at a speed of three nautical miles," Louis-Xavier Renaux, spokesman for the Atlantic maritime prefecture was quoted as saying by local media.

After two failed salvage attempts, four specialists rappelled down to the ship from a helicopter then attached a metal cable to help tow the vessel to a port which was yet not identified, according to Landres prefecture.

The 164-meter-long Modern Express, was transporting 3,600 tonnes of wood along with construction machinery from Gabon to Le Havre, northwestern France.

Due to rough seas and bad weather last week, the Panamanian-registered cargo listed heavily to one side and did not manage to recover an upright position.

The 22-memeber crew was evacuated by helicopter on January 26, according to reports. Endit