Salvage of the Modern Express by SMIT Salvage

On 26 January 2016, a 164-meter-long Roll-on/Roll-off vessel lost stability in heavy weather and was drifting fast towards the French coast in the Bay of Biscay. A team of dedicated salvage experts of SMIT Salvage was on the scene within 24 hours and was able to prevent an environmental disaster from taking place. Watch the impressive video of this spectacular salvage operation.

[@RSBSTEADICAM]

As both a seasoned Videographer and licenced ship's Master this is the kind of company I would love to work with! Every company should better document their efforts like this.

[@martynwright2799]

Modern day heroes . Way to go SMIT salvage.

[@krazybot]

Absolutely incredible. What a time to be alive. Huge respect for everyone involved in this operation

[@Mr.Tobuild]

Awesome work guys! Cannot wait to see the ship back in action :)

[@benediktdanting9970]

If that narrator wanted, he could easily pull off one of the most believable Morgan Freeman impressions ever!

[@corvuscanis]

What kind of price tag goes on an operation like that?

[@suddendeath2285]

could be up into the millions but most of the money goes back into the salvage equipment I have known guys who were paid $50,000 USD for a 19 foot lobster boat rescued from shallow water and when all was said and done the 2 man crew only got $1,000 a piece

[@harryhef]

So what happened to cause the ship to "lose stability" in the first place? Was the cargo unsecured and did it all shift to one side during the heavy seas, thus tilting the ship and lodging all the cargo on the low side?

[@frankblangeard8865]

The ship was carrying vehicles and 3700 tons of wood. The cargo shifted and this caused the list.

[@jrgordon47]

Da Popeye what would u guess?

[@chdreturns]

It is a RO/RO thats what caused the instability... Tbh those type of ships are always a recipe for disaster.

[@chdreturns]

+chdreturns MS Estonia, MS Herald of Free Enterprise, SS El Faro... The list goes on.

[@alexandersenko924]

Wow! Great job!

[@roundtowerDC]

For a 5+-minute video we certainly could have seen more of the ship as salvaged and righted! #hardlyapayoff

[@danijayaputra1456]

one question, who's pay for the operation?

[@snubbedpeer]

Modern Express’ 3600 ton cargo shifted and the vessel started listing some 240 km off Cape Ortegal, Galicia, in the Bay of Biscay.

[@RSBSTEADICAM]

Somehow quite a lot of ferry issues over the past 30 years or so. Is there something that connects them?

[@nickbreen287]

Great Vid

[@kevinbyrne4538]

1:20 -- I recognize the man resting his head on his hand as a diver (from previous Smit videos).

[@StephenMortimer]

a lot of "drama" for the grandsons of deRuyter !!

[@colormeup82]

What was found to be the original cause of the tilt?

[@jasomflores3310]

was the ship was a car carrer ship?

[@Goofybespitenothavinganyfish]

wow just wow