Heavy Lift-Ship Loses Engine Power & Drifts Uncontrollably In 4.5-Metre-High Waves In North Sea Storm

A cargo ship lost control 29 km north of the Dutch Island of Schiermonnikoog in the North Sea during a powerful storm, wounding five of its 25 crew members.

The vessel UHL Freedom, operated by a German shipping company, was headed to the Port of Emden, Germany, with a cargo of wind turbine blades when the incident occurred, according to authorities.

A helicopter arrived at the scene with a nurse to provide first aid, and it also airlifted two of the seriously injured seafarers to the University Medical Center in Groningen. A Coast Guard aircraft was also dispatched shortly.

The Dutch Sea Rescue Service KNRM, along with two German vessels and the rescue ship Hamburg, were also sent to assist the UHL Freedom.

According to a spokesperson for the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution, the anchor system of the ship failed during the storm, along with issues with engine power, which led to the vessel drifting uncontrollably in the North Sea

Authorities also informed the shipping company about the situation and consulted it regarding the continuation of its voyage.

Until help arrived, the ship sailing under the Portuguese flag drifted helplessly as the storm produced waves as high as 4.5 metres while the wind force reached 9 on the Beaufort scale.

The UHL Freedom is a 150-metre-long heavy-lift cargo vessel operated by United Heavy Lift. It was constructed in 2021 for transporting heavy industrial machinery, infrastructure parts, and offshore wind energy equipment.

Classified by DNV, the vessel has a gross tonnage of 16,729 tonnes and an average speed of 13.7 knots. UHL Freedom is a specialised Eco-Lifter class vessel and is part of 19 sister ships.

It has two deck cranes, each capable of lifting 450 tonnes. Despite its size and operations, it consumes less fuel compared to its traditional counterparts, as it has been designed for efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions, which makes it Tier III climate-compliant.

Additionally, it was built as per GL E3 / Finnish 1A Ice Class specification, with a reinforced hull and propulsion system so it can cross freezing waters covered with ice floes without the need for an icebreaker.