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Liberation blow off PoelHumpback whale Timmi sets course for the North Sea

David Ingelfinger

 · 28.04.2026

The stranded humpback whale Timmi has reached the transport barge. After helpers had secured the animal with straps, it was manoeuvred through a dredged channel directly into the barge. | Philip Dulian
Photo: picture alliance/dpa
The stranded humpback whale Timmi has left the shallows off Poel and is now safely on the transport barge. The rescue in the shallow water was meticulously prepared by experts this morning, ensuring that the loading onto the special pontoon went smoothly. The controlled transport of the animal to the North Sea will now begin.

The delicate manoeuvre to rescue the whale now appears to have been successfully completed after excessively high water levels the action a fortnight ago. The humpback whale was given medical treatment in the early hours of the morning and kept moist while it was secured with soft lifting straps. In the meantime, the whale was successfully manoeuvred into the intended position between the pontoons.

Risky poton manoeuvre

As planned The animal's pectoral fins were first carefully removed from the silt and then lifting bags were placed under the torso. Bedded on a special tarpaulin and secured between the pontoons, the whale is now to be manoeuvred out of the shallow bay in a tow. Even though the humpback whale has now been safely loaded, the situation remains critical: experts continue to warn of the considerable stress the transport will place on the organism. In addition, there have been conflicting reports for days about the actual condition of the animal.

Change of course at the ministry

Since the beginning of March there have been Numerous attempts to free the humpback whale. However, as the Ministry of the Environment considered a successful rescue to be hopeless, the authorities discontinued their efforts after a few weeks. The present concept for the whale rescue now enables a "responsible reassessment based on new technical possibilities", according to the Ministry of the Environment's press release. The private initiative must bear the costs and risks in full itself. Veterinarians will monitor the operation on site.

David Ingelfinger

Weit entfernt von den Küsten im Rhein-Main-Gebiet aufgewachsen, fand David Ingelfinger erst im Alter von elf Jahren auf den niederländischen Gewässern zum Segelsport. Was als Familienurlaub ohne großartige Vorkenntnisse begann, mündete in einer steilen Lernkurve, aus der die dauerhafte Leidenschaft fürs Segeln entsprang. Seine praktischen Erfahrungen festigte er über die Jahre mit dem Erwerb des SKS und zahlreichen Meilen als Skipper auf Charteryachten im Ijsselmeer, der Nordsee sowie im Mittelmeer. Nach seinem Studium der Publizistik schlägt er nun die Brücke zwischen dem journalistischen Handwerk und der Praxis auf dem Wasser und bringt seine Begeisterung für den Sport als Volontär in die Redaktion der YACHT ein.

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