The UHL Freedom North Sea incident on 25 October 2026 left three crew injured, with two evacuated by helicopter for hospital treatment. The heavy-lift ship, registered in Portugal, developed engine trouble during a storm and subsequently recovered only partial engine power.
A rescue helicopter brought the two casualties to Groningen Airport Eelde. Ambulances completed their journey to hospital. A nurse had also been winched down to provide care aboard the vessel, which carried 25 crew. The supplied reports gave no details of the injuries or the third casualty’s condition.
Breakbulk News reported that the Netherlands Coastguard reduced its casualty count from five to three in an update issued at 16:55 local time.
Before propulsion problems arose, the 150-metre ship had been at anchor some 29 kilometres to the north of Schiermonnikoog. Its anchor started to drag, and the crew began lifting it. Engine problems then restricted the ship’s ability to manoeuvre. Heavy seas caused severe rolling as it drifted in Beaufort force nine winds.
The coastguard received a distress call just before 14:00. Rescue boats responded from the Dutch stations at Ameland, Eemshaven and Schiermonnikoog, while Germany’s maritime rescue service dispatched Hamburg from Borkum. An aircraft from the coastguard also joined the response.
The response also included dispatching two emergency tugs: Guardian from the Netherlands and Germany’s Nordic.
The coastguard later reported a partial recovery of propulsion. UHL Freedom had sailed from Bremerhaven on 24 October with Emden as its destination. The owner was responsible for deciding which port the ship would use.
