Massive Container Ship Runs Aground Just Outside A House In Norway

A massive 135-meter-long cargo ship ran aground just outside a house in Byneset, near the city of Trondheim in central Norway in the early hours of May 22, 2025.

The incident occurred at around 5:00 am local time when the Cyprus-registered feeder vessel, NCL Salten, veered off course and ran aground onto the shore, stopping just seven meters from the wooden cabin of resident Johan Helberg.

The ship, travelling through the Trondheim Fjord en route to Orkanger, was moving at a speed of approximately 16 knots when it grounded.

Despite the speed and size of the vessel, all 16 crew members onboard, including a Norwegian captain and a crew composed of Russian and Ukrainian nationals, were confirmed safe. No oil spills or pollution have been reported.

Helberg, a retired museum director, was asleep inside the cabin with his partner and didn’t hear a thing. According to various reports, he only found out about the vessel when his neighbour, Jostein Jorgensen, came running to alert him after witnessing the ship heading toward the shore at full speed.

Helberg said that he was confused by the doorbell ringing so early in the morning and didn’t want to answer at first. It wasn’t until Jorgensen called him on the phone that he realised something unusual was happening.

When he looked out of his window, the giant red and green container ship was towering just outside his house.

Jorgensen had initially thought Helberg was already outside and tried repeatedly to ring his doorbell. He later explained that he had been awakened by the loud sound of the ship coming toward land and rushed over in shock.

Helberg later said that the experience felt surreal, saying he had to crane his neck just to see the top of the vessel from his window. The ship, with a carrying capacity of 862 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of cargo, had apparently scrapped along rocks and seaweed as it came ashore, causing minimal noise and damage.

Norwegian police have confirmed that an investigation is underway. A suspect has been identified and is being questioned, although there is no suspicion that the grounding was intentional.

Early assessments suggest that technical failure or human error may have caused the accident.

Following the grounding, authorities also noticed a clay landslide roughly 100 meters wide near the shore, which they believe was triggered by vibrations from the ship’s sudden halt.

Safety cordons have been placed around the area to prevent accidents.

A representative from the Norwegian Coastal Administration confirmed that the vessel remains stationary and that there is no risk of further incidents as long as it stays in place. Recovery efforts are being coordinated to refloat the ship.

Meanwhile, Helberg said the ship’s crew had briefly communicated with him and his partner from the deck above, but didn’t discuss the crash.

Describing the bizarre situation with calmness, he added humorously that the container ship is now like “a very bulky new neighbour,” though he expects it “will soon go away.”

The shipping company, NCL, said in a statement that they are treating the incident seriously and are grateful that no one was hurt. The charter’s CEO, Bente Hetland, said they are cooperating fully with the investigation.

The same vessel, NCL Salten, had run aground once before in 2023 but managed to free itself without assistance.

References: BBC, NYTimes

Source: Maritime Shipping News