Cargo Ship UHL Freedom Loses Anchor in North Sea Storm, Leaving 25 Crew Members on Board

Photographer: Manfred - ShipSpotting.com

The cargo ship UHL Freedom became uncontrollable during a severe storm in the North Sea after losing its anchor and experiencing engine problems. Three crew members were injured, and a helicopter evacuated two.

The incident occurred on Sunday, approximately 30 kilometers (16.2 nautical miles) west of Germany’s Borkum island, near the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog. According to reports by Bild, cited by UNN, winds reaching Force 9 on the Beaufort scale pushed the vessel off course.

Engine problems further complicated the situation, prompting a coordinated rescue operation involving Dutch rescue services and the German rescue cruiser Hamburg.

A helicopter carrying medical specialists was dispatched to the vessel to assist the injured crew members. Helicopters later evacuated two of the three injured sailors, and emergency tugboats were also sent to the scene.

The UHL Freedom is a 150-meter (492-foot) long and 26-meter (85-foot) wide cargo ship sailing under the Portuguese flag and owned by Hamburg-based United Heavy Lift. At the time of the incident, the vessel carried cargo, including wind turbine blades, and was bound for the port of Emden in northern Germany.