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.

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