Eikborg Loses Rudder After Grounding Near Portuguese Port

The Dutch-flagged general cargo ship Eikborg suffered a loss of rudder control following a brief grounding while departing the port of Figueira da Foz in Portugal on January 26. While poor weather conditions were present at the time, port authorities believe a recently completed dredging project is the more likely factor behind the incident.

According to reports, the vessel ran into difficulties shortly after clearing the port, having sailed only a few miles into heavy seas. The ship’s captain reported a total failure of the rudder system and said the vessel was being maneuvered astern to maintain greater control amid the challenging conditions.

A tugboat from Leixões has since been sent to assist, with plans to tow the Eikborg to either Lisbon or Setúbal.

The grounding is believed to have occurred near the port entrance, close to an area where a €33.7 million dredging campaign was recently completed. The project involved the removal of approximately three million cubic meters of sand, but authorities suspect it may not have fully resolved navigational risks, potentially leaving unstable sandbanks behind.

This marks the second similar incident at the port this month. As a result, the port of Figueira da Foz has been closed to large vessels since 14:00 local time while investigations continue. Harbor pilots have declined to handle traffic due to concerns over sandbars, forcing several ships to divert to other ports.