A man in Norway experienced a bizarre and alarming situation when he woke up to discover a massive 443-foot shipping vessel, the NCL Salten, lodged in his yard in Byneset. Johan Helberg was unaware of the incident, which occurred early Thursday morning, until his neighbors knocked on his door to alert him. Peering out his window, he was met with an unusual sight — the ship’s striking orange-and-green bow hovering alarmingly close to his home, just meters away.
Helberg remarked on the absurdity of the situation, expressing how different the view was from his typical serene scenery of the Trondheim Fjord. He also noted that if the vessel had veered just a few meters to the right, it could have rammed into a rocky cliff, potentially causing significant damage to his property.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the 11,000-ton vessel’s grounding. The ship was carrying a crew of 16, consisting of individuals from Norway, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Russia, according to Bente Hetland, CEO of NCL, the company that chartered the ship.
As investigations are underway to determine the reasons for the grounding, one individual has been identified as a suspect. The second mate, a Ukrainian man in his 30s, has been charged with negligent navigation after admitting to police that he had fallen asleep while on watch at the time of the incident.
The impact of the collision sparked a landslide, prompting Norwegian authorities to conduct geotechnical surveys to ensure safety in the area. The Norwegian Coastal Administration is overseeing the salvage efforts, working to refloat the vessel while assessing any damage.
Hetland stated that NCL is conducting an internal investigation to uncover the root causes of the event and will follow up with measures to enhance safety protocols on their chartered ships.
This unusual incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of maritime operations and the importance of safety and vigilance on board. The community is now faced with the task of ensuring the area’s stability while looking forward to a resolution to the perilous entanglement of the ship.