Officer Charged After Ship Grounds Near Trondheim Home

A second officer from Ukraine aboard the NCL Salten container vessel has been formally charged with negligent navigation following the ship’s grounding near Trondheim, Norway, early Thursday morning. The vessel ran aground alarmingly close to a summer home in the Byneset area, narrowly missing serious property damage.

The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time, when the officer on duty reportedly fell asleep during his watch. While the grounding caused only minor damage to the property’s heating system, no injuries were reported among the 16 crew members on board.

The Norwegian Maritime Authority, along with Trøndelag Police, is currently investigating the circumstances, focusing on whether the vessel was properly staffed and if legal rest periods had been observed prior to the incident.

The NCL Salten, a 135-meter feeder container ship, was on a voyage to Orkanger when it strayed off course. The vessel had completed three port calls in the previous 24 hours, raising questions about crew fatigue. The ship is currently grounded near the private residence, with the Norwegian Coastal Administration directing the salvage efforts.

This event adds to growing concerns within the maritime sector regarding fatigue-related accidents and the enforcement of watchkeeping standards. Norwegian authorities have previously stressed the importance of compliance with rest hour regulations and maintaining vigilant bridge watch routines to avoid such incidents.