The Panamanian-flagged car carrier, Modern Express, issued a distress call from the Bay of Biscay on Tuesday after she developed a list of about 40 degrees in a Force 8 gale and heavy seas.
Spain’s search and rescue agency Salvamento Maritimo evacuated the 22 crew members by helicopter.
Since then the vessel has drifted into French waters, and the French Navy dispatched the emergency towing vessel Abeille Bourbon on Wednesday to retrieve the vessel.
The 163-metre-long Modern Express is reportedly loaded with 3 600 tonnes of wood and construction equipment.
