Injured Master and Officer Evacuated During North Sea Storm
The Dutch and German rescue agencies are reporting they responded to a Mayday call from a heavy-lift vessel operating in the North Sea during last weekend’s heavy storms. Some areas were reporting sustained winds of 50 to 60 mph and gusts of 70 to 80 mph, causing widespread damage, including likely contributing to the cruise ship hitting two containerships in the port of Bremerhaven.
The heavy lift vessel UHL Freedom (14,000 dwt), measuring 150 meters (492 feet), was operating in the North Sea, reportedly loaded with material for offshore wind farms. The ship is registered in Portugal and has a crew of 25.
The vessel’s owners, United Heavy Lift, say the ship was attempting to weigh anchor and turn into the seas on Sunday afternoon, October 25. It was approximately 18 miles off the Dutch coast near Schiermonnikoog. According to the company’s version of the incident, the vessel swung beam-on to the seas and experienced severe rolling and consequently high acceleration forces.
It said the master and the second officer lost their footing during the rolling and sustained injuries. It disputes a statement by the Dutch rescue service, which said the vessel was also experiencing engine problems. “At no time did the vessel experience any engine failure or machinery damage,” the company writes in its statement.
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The chief officer issued the Mayday with reports that the ship was experiencing 5-meter (16-plus foot) waves. Dutch lifeboats and a rescue tug were dispatched, and a German rescue tug was also sailing toward the vessel. A Dutch rescue helicopter was able to remove the master and second officer and transport them to a hospital. The master is being treated for unspecified injuries, while the second officer was treated and released. The Dutch authorities originally said that five crewmembers were reported injured but later revised it to three, and the third individual did not require evacuation.
The crew managed to bring the vessel’s bow back into the seas and then completed the anchor-weighing. The ship proceeded to the port of Emden while the Dutch rescue tug Guardian remained in the vicinity. The ship has now docked in Germany.
