Sleepy Officer Causes Container Ship Crash into Norwegian Garden

An officer's negligence has uncovered serious concerns about maritime protocols and safety standards.

The watch officer of a large container ship, which recently crashed into a resident's front garden in Norway, has revealed to police that he was asleep at the time of the incident. The 135-meter-long (443ft) vessel, the NCL Salten, ran aground on Thursday morning in Byneset, near Trondheim, and narrowly avoided colliding with a nearby house. The Ukrainian national, who is in his thirties, has since been charged with negligent navigation. Authorities are also probing whether the crew adhered to mandated working and rest hours on the ship.

In a statement, prosecutor Kjetil Bruland Sørensen from Trøndelag Police District indicated that the watch officer, responsible for steering the ship, fell asleep while on duty, resulting in the vessel going off course. Despite efforts to refloat the ship, they have so far been unsuccessful, adding to the concerns surrounding this incident.

No injuries were reported following the crash. The Cyprus-flagged cargo ship had 16 crew members onboard and was navigating the Trondheim Fjord heading towards Orkanger when it careened off course. NCL, the logistics company that chartered the ship, has described the situation as a "serious incident" and expressed gratitude that nobody was harmed. The company is currently cooperating with police in the investigation while prioritizing a safe salvage operation.

Residents, including Johan Helberg, who owns the property where the ship came to rest, were left in disbelief. In an interview, he described looking out his window to find the ship in his garden: "I had to bend my neck to see the top of it. It was so unreal." Helberg relayed his astonishment at the ship being just "five metres" away from entering his bedroom, adding, "It's a very bulky new neighbour but it will soon go away."

A panicked neighbor who witnessed the event recounted the sheer terror of the situation. Bard Jorgensen, the neighbor's son, expressed how surreal it felt to see the ship heading towards the house early in the morning. "I didn't know if I was dreaming because it was five in the morning and it was so surreal," he reflected.

Interestingly, the NCL Salten had previously run aground earlier in 2023 but managed to free itself at that time. This recent incident has raised pressing questions about maritime safety standards and the enforcement of regulations regarding crew schedules.