The Spanish marine support ship Nautilus was sinking at the Eemshaven port in the Netherlands on October 5, 2026, due to a water leak. At 18:30, while returning to the Dutch port, the ship noticed water entering it.
Emergency Situation and Local Services Response
Local emergency services, Veiligheidsregio Groningen, identified this incident as a level 1 emergency. Reports indicate that the front section of the ship was significantly submerged in water, and the risk of sinking in the port was very serious. Police and fire brigade forces were dispatched to the scene, and the port authority organized rescue operations.
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The Nautilus, built in 2001, is 73 meters (239 feet) long and is used to support the offshore wind energy industry. Local authorities reported that water was entering the ship through the engine room, and it is estimated that this leak was due to a faulty valve.
Rescue Actions and Subsequent Investigations
Although there is no precise information on the volume of water entering the ship or the flooding rate, an evacuation order was issued, and two crew members were examined by ambulance due to minor injuries. Additionally, the Dutch National Water Authorities helped prevent potential pollution by placing an oil boom around the ship as a precautionary measure.
About an hour after the first report, an emergency team from a private salvage company was dispatched to the ship, and two tugboats also arrived at the scene for additional security. Unofficial reports indicated that the ship had lost power, complicating rescue efforts, but the rescue team managed to seal the leak and stop the water ingress.
By 23:00, the port authority reported that the water ingress had stopped and pumping operations had begun. This report indicates that the ship is rising. Port officials planned to conduct further investigations into the source of the leak on Tuesday.
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