Norwegian man awakes to find 443-foot cargo vessel ran aground in his backyard

When Johan Helberg expressed his desire for a waterfront view, he never imagined that the waterfront would come to him in the form of a 443-foot cargo ship. The NCL Salten, a massive vessel, ran aground near his home in Byneset, Norway, just outside Trondheim, much to his surprise.

Waking up on Thursday morning, Helberg was shocked to see the bow of the ship just a stone’s throw away from his house. The vessel had narrowly missed hitting his home by only 16 feet. Despite the close call, Helberg had slept through the entire incident and was only made aware of the situation when a concerned neighbor alerted him.

“It was so unreal,” Helberg told The Guardian, describing the sight of the enormous ship just outside his window. Authorities later determined that the ship’s watch officer, a Ukrainian national in his 30s, had fallen asleep while on duty, causing the vessel to veer off course.

Fortunately, there were no injuries or oil spills reported from the incident. However, a heating pump’s wire on Helberg’s property suffered minor damage. This wasn’t the first time the NCL Salten had run aground, as it had previously encountered a similar situation in 2023 but managed to free itself without assistance.

Efforts to refloat the ship during high tide proved unsuccessful, and the Norwegian Coastal Administration is conducting geotechnical assessments before attempting another rescue operation. The shipping company NCL has assured that they are cooperating fully with the investigation.

Despite the unexpected intrusion, Helberg maintains a positive attitude. “It’s a very bulky new neighbor, but it will soon go away,” he joked. The resilient homeowner is taking the situation in stride as he waits for the ship to be safely removed from his waterfront view.

In conclusion, the incident involving the NCL Salten and Johan Helberg’s home serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of maritime operations and the importance of vigilant navigation practices. Thankfully, no harm was done, and both parties are cooperating to ensure a safe resolution to the situation.

This rewritten article captures the essence of the original story while providing a fresh perspective on the events that unfolded in Byneset, Norway.