A cargo vessel lost its anchor and went adrift near the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog in the North Sea, authorities said on Sunday. The incident involved 25 crew members, three of whom were injured. The Royal Netherlands Maritime Search and Rescue (KNRM) confirmed that the ship, the UHL Freedom, is drifting and that three people have sustained injuries. Two of the injured were air‑lifted by a Coast Guard helicopter to a hospital; the severity of their conditions has not been disclosed. A third crew member was also rescued, but details of his condition are pending. The UHL Freedom is a heavy‑haul cargo vessel measuring almost 150 metres in length and is registered under the Portuguese flag. It had departed from Poland bound for Germany on Thursday. The ship was caught in wind and waves exceeding 4.5 metres after two strong storms swept the area over the weekend. Rescue operations included three Dutch rescue boats, a Dutch Coast Guard helicopter, a German rescue boat, and a rescue vessel. A helicopter also transported an emergency nurse to the ship to provide medical assistance.
Article source: El Nuevo Diario | Image credit: El Nuevo Diario