In an extraordinary event, a 443-foot container ship ran aground directly in the yard of a Norwegian homeowner, Johan Helberg, near Trondheim. The massive ship crashed into his front garden in the early morning hours of May 22, coming alarmingly close to destroying his cabin. Helberg was asleep and only woke up after his neighbor repeatedly rang his doorbell to alert him about the ship’s presence.
Alert Neighbor Warns Homeowner as Ship Approaches, Causing Near Miss and Damage
Helberg’s neighbor, Jostein Joergensen, was the first to notice the ship approaching. Half-awake, Joergensen saw the vessel and tried to get its attention by whistling and waving. When Helberg didn’t respond to the doorbell, Joergensen called him to warn him of the unusual and dangerous situation. Despite the disruption, Helberg admitted he was reluctant to open the door at that early hour but was ultimately grateful to be warned.
Container Ship Crashes Into Norwegian Yard After Officer Falls Asleep at the HelmAlthough the ship narrowly missed Helberg’s house, it did cause some damage by breaking a heating pipe. Helberg considered himself fortunate, noting that if the ship had hit the nearby rocky cliff, it might have been lifted onto and severely damaged his cabin. The incident was described as highly unusual since ships rarely come so close to private homes in that area.
Ship Grounded Near Home After Officer Falls Asleep, Prompting Salvage Operation Efforts
The vessel involved was the NCL Salten, a Cyprus-flagged container ship with 16 crew members onboard, none of whom were injured. The ship was traveling through the Trondheim Fjord, a passage connecting to the Norwegian Sea. Helberg remarked that while large ships do occasionally pass by, none have ever come so close to his home, making the incident particularly unusual.
Following the accident, the ship’s watch officer admitted to falling asleep while on duty and has been charged with negligent navigation. North Sea Container Line (NCL), the ship’s operator, is cooperating with Norwegian police and the Norwegian Coastal Administration to manage the salvage operation. As of the latest updates, the ship remained grounded but secured, with the crew onboard ensuring the situation is under control while efforts to refloat the vessel continue.