Another Cargo Ship Runs Aground In Sweden With 938,000L Of Oil Onboard

For the second time in a week, a bulk carrier has run aground in the Öresund strait between Sweden and Denmark. This time, the 180-meter long Panama flagged vessel Meshka grounded off Landskrona on the morning of Saturday, May 31, 2025.

An emergency response and a preliminary criminal investigation was launched.

The incident occurred just before 10:00 am, when the Swedish Maritime Administration’s traffic center noticed the vessel drifting outside the designated shipping lane.

A warning was sent to the crew, but the vessel continued off-course and ran-aground in waters only three meters deep, despite having a draft of seven meters.

The ship, built in 2011 and weighing over 35,800 dwt, was sailing from Tarragona, Spain, toward Vysotsk, a Russian port near the Finnish border. It was not carrying cargo at the time but had recently refueled and was traveling with fuel and ballast.

Rescue vessels and divers were dispatched to the scene. Initial inspections confirmed that none of the 24 crew members were injured, and no oil leaks were visible.

The hull was resting largely on sandy seabed, and divers reported no apparent damage. However, the vessel is carrying a significant quantity of oil, around 938,000 litres of oil and lubricants.

As a precautionary measure, the Swedish Coast Guard has deployed containment resources at the site in case of a spill. They have stated that the vessel will remain under the responsibility of its Dubai-based owner until a salvage plan is submitted and approved.

A preliminary investigation has been launched into suspected negligence in maritime traffic. The Coast Guard confirmed that one crew member is currently under suspicion of violating the Swedish Maritime Act. However, authorities have not disclosed the individual’s specific role on the vessel and no arrests have been made.

Sobriety checks were carried out onboard, and no signs of intoxication were reported. The investigation has now been handed over to the Swedish Prosecution Authority.

This is the second grounding in the Öresund in under a week. On May 25, another cargo ship, Ali Aykin, ran aground near Klagshamn, south of Malmö. In that case, one individual was suspected of maritime intoxication and another of gross negligence.

Although the two incidents happened in close proximity, Swedish officials stated that the circumstances surrounding them are different. One thing they do have in common is a record of safety issues.

The Meshka had 23 deficiencies reported during a port state inspection in the UK in September 2024, including structural and fire safety issues, as well as problems with crew training. The ship was detained for 18 days but passed a clean inspection in Spain in May 2025.

For now, the authorities remain on standby as the shipowner prepares a salvage plan. The Coast Guard said they are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to act swiftly if any oil begins to leak.

References: swedenherald, shippingtelegraph

Source: Maritime Shipping News