Modern Express: Cargo shift not the cause of the heel
The cargo of "Modern Express" would have ripped the hull if it in fact had shifted, first investigations revealed, so this cause, long cited as explanation of the heeling of the ship, could be excluded.
But the conditions for access to the interior of the ship, which still heeled 45 degrees, remained difficult so there is limited information available at this time.
The heavy construction machines were stored in hold two, the other eight were small devices with one or two tons weight, located between the bridges 5 and 7, on the main deck. It was thought that an error in ballasting or a free water surface inside a garage deck following a water ingress may have been the cause.
The crew of the "Modern Express", which probably holds the key to the investigation, quickly has left towards the Philippines, according to local media. Smit Salvage has begun to pump out water from the ship.
The cargo of "Modern Express" would have ripped the hull if it in fact had shifted, first investigations revealed, so this cause, long cited as explanation of the heeling of the ship, could be excluded.
But the conditions for access to the interior of the ship, which still heeled 45 degrees, remained difficult so there is limited information available at this time.
The heavy construction machines were stored in hold two, the other eight were small devices with one or two tons weight, located between the bridges 5 and 7, on the main deck. It was thought that an error in ballasting or a free water surface inside a garage deck following a water ingress may have been the cause.
The crew of the "Modern Express", which probably holds the key to the investigation, quickly has left towards the Philippines, according to local media. Smit Salvage has begun to pump out water from the ship.