Final bid to salvage drifting cargo ship off French coast

A final attempt has been launched to salvage a cargo ship that has been adrift for almost a week.

High winds and six metre waves have been hampering efforts to guide the Modern Express to safety.

The Panama-registered vessel, which is carrying wood and machinery, has been listing heavily around 40 kilometres off southwestern France.

The 22-member crew was rescued by Spanish helicopters last week after sending out a distress call.

Rescatados los 22 tripulantes del mercante Modern Express a 148 millas al Norte de Cabo Ortegal from Salvamento Marítimo on Vimeo.

A tug has now attached a line to the Modern Express, to move it further out to sea, and to stop it running aground.

If the attempt fails, the cargo ship could hit the French coast within the next 24 hours.