UHL Freedom master evacuated after heavy-lift ship rolls in North Sea storm off Schiermonnikoog
United Heavy Lift says the ship swung beam-on while weighing anchor and denies the engine failure first given as the cause
The master and second officer of the heavy-lift ship UHL Freedom were evacuated by Dutch coastguard helicopter on Sunday 25 October after the ship rolled heavily in a North Sea storm about 29 kilometres north of the Wadden island of Schiermonnikoog. A third crew member was hurt but did not need to be taken off. The 150-metre ship, registered in Portugal and carrying 25 crew, has since reached Emden, where she is alongside.
The trouble began at about 13:30 local time, when the Netherlands Coastguard says the ship's anchor started to drag across the seabed in winds of force 9 and waves of up to 4.5 metres. The chief officer reported waves of around five metres. The coastguard's first account spoke of engine problems that left the ship with limited propulsion, and of five injured. At 16:55 the official count was revised to three.
What does United Heavy Lift say happened?
The owner, United Heavy Lift, gives a different sequence. The crew were weighing anchor and trying to turn the ship into the seas when she swung beam-on and rolled severely. The master and the second officer fell on the bridge and were injured. "At no time did the vessel experience any engine failure or machinery damage," the company said. Once the bow had been brought back into the seas, the crew finished weighing anchor and the ship set course for Emden under her own power.
The master is still being treated for injuries the company has not described. The second officer has been discharged from hospital.
How was the rescue run?
The helicopter flew the two officers to Groningen Airport Eelde, where ambulances took them to hospital. A search-and-rescue nurse was lowered onto the ship and a coastguard surveillance aircraft circled overhead. The Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution sent three lifeboats, from Eemshaven, Schiermonnikoog and Ameland. Two emergency towing vessels were mobilised, the Dutch coastguard tug Guardian and the German emergency tug Nordic, both several hours away when the call went out. No pollution or structural damage was reported, and nothing has been said about the cargo.
UHL Freedom is one of the company's ships built for heavy industrial equipment and offshore wind components. The same storm hit the German Bight hard that evening: at Bremerhaven a strong gust pushed a departing cruise ship into two moored containerships.
This story is part of the Maritime Briefing of 28 October 2026.
