Ship Watch Officer Falls Asleep, Leading to Gardening Crash in Norway

The watch officer's negligence raises concerns over navigational safety and adherence to maritime regulations.

The calamity occurred on Thursday morning when the 135-meter-long (443-foot) container vessel, the NCL Salten, encountered a resident's garden near Trondheim. The Ukrainian watch officer, in his thirties, confessed to authorities that he had nodded off while steering the ship. He now faces charges of negligent navigation as investigators delve into whether proper work-rest schedules were observed by the crew.

According to police, the ship narrowly missed crashing into a house, missing it by only a few meters. Efforts to refloat the vessel have proven unsuccessful thus far and the incident is under investigation. "The individual charged was the officer on watch at the time of the incident," stated prosecutor Kjetil Bruland Sørensen. Witness accounts describe the panic experienced when the vessel failed to alter its course upon entering the Trondheim Fjord.

No injuries were reported among the 16 crew members on board. The logistics firm NCL, which has chartered the ship, expressed relief that no one was hurt while labeling the event a "serious incident." They emphasized the importance of conducting a secure salvage operation and pledged to facilitate the ongoing police inquiry.

Local resident Johan Helberg, whose property was nearly impacted, recounted his disbelief upon seeing the colossal ship from his window. "I had to bend my neck to see the top of it. It was so unreal," he recounted in a statement to the Guardian. The ship was a mere five meters away from crashing into his bedroom, leading to moments of sheer terror as neighbors reacted to the unfolding event. Bard Jorgensen, a nearby resident, reflected on the experience, noting his father's frightened reaction as they witnessed the approaching ship, and expressed relief at the well-being of those nearby.

Reports indicate that the NCL Salten had a prior grounding event earlier in 2023, from which it was able to liberate itself using its own power. The matter remains pressing, as the local community comes to terms with the ramifications of this extraordinary occurrence.