A Dutch-flagged Cargo Ship Lost Its Helm Off The Central Coast Of Portugal And Is Awaiting Tugboat Rescue.
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- Category: Accidentes
- Published on Saturday, 31 January 2026 01:29
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SDI Logistics Co.,Ltd | Jan 29, 2026
On January 26, a Dutch-flagged cargo ship lost its helm off the central coast of Portugal and was awaiting tugboat rescue. According to Maritime Executive, the general cargo ship "Ekberg," operated by Royal Wagenberg, ran aground while departing the port of Figueira da Foz.
The 89-meter-long cargo ship, carrying pulp to Germany, reported helm failure just miles from the coast.
Port Authority official Paul Mariano told reporters that the ship was "maintaining its course by reversing," a move he described as "counterproductive," but the only feasible solution given the captain's need to navigate the rough seas.
A cargo ship lost its helm off the central coast of Portugal and awaited rescue. (Image unrelated to the text. Source: Internet)
On Monday afternoon, the ship was located approximately four nautical miles southwest of the port entrance. A tugboat had departed from Lesos and was expected to tow the "Ekberg" to Lisbon or Setúbal.
Port officials emphasized that they believe the incident was caused by a failed dredging project at the port entrance, not by severe weather. They stated that €28 million was spent to remove 3 million cubic meters of sand, but the sandbar problem has remained unresolved since the project's completion.
Since 2 PM on January 26th, the port has ordered a ban on all large vessels entering or leaving. Pilots have refused to guide vessels in or out of the port due to the sandbar issue.
Port officials stated that this is the second similar incident this month, and some vessels have begun diverting to other ports.