Norwegian Man Finds Cargo Ship at His Door

On the morning of 22 May, a massive cargo ship grounded just metres from a local home, shocking residents in Byneset, near Trondheim, Norway. The 135-meter vessel, identified as the NCL Salten, ran aground around 5:00 a.m. in the Trondheim Fjord as it passed through the Trondheim Fjord heading toward Orkanger.

Homeowner Johan Helberg had slept through the incident until a concerned neighbor persistently rang his doorbell and called his phone. Helberg finally answered and stood stunned as he saw a towering cargo ship lodged in his backyard, missing his house by just a few meters.

He later remarked that it had stopped so close that it could have crashed directly into his bedroom had it drifted slightly further south.

Residents Alarmed, Authorities Investigate

Neighbor Jostein Jørgensen, who heard the vessel approaching, was the first to notice the ship veering dangerously close to shore. He attempted to alert Helberg by ringing the doorbell multiple times before calling him directly. Jørgensen expressed surprise that Helberg stayed asleep during the arrival of such a large vessel, describing the sight as surreal.

The Norwegian shipping company NCL confirmed that 16 crew members were aboard the Salten at the time. The incident caused no injuries, and the vessel avoided directly damaging Helberg’s home. However, the psychological impact on the household and the surrounding community has been considerable.

Human Error Suspected

Preliminary investigations by local authorities suggest that the officer responsible for steering the vessel may have fallen asleep at the controls.

The incident is under official review, and the shipping company stated that it is cooperating fully with authorities to determine the exact cause.

NCL’s managing director said the company is currently assessing the ship’s damage. She added that, although the cause remains unclear, they are committed to uncovering what led to the grounding and making any necessary safety improvements.

A Close Call

For Helberg, the experience remains both shocking and strangely comical. He never expected to see a massive cargo vessel just outside his window. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the property remained undamaged. But the event serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by maritime errors, even in peaceful coastal communities.

As the investigation continues, authorities and residents alike are reflecting on the incident as a rare but alarming brush with disaster.

Watch the video here:

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A Norwegian man who was asleep in is home on the edge of a fjord had a lucky escape when a huge cargo ship ran aground a few metres from his house. Johan Helberg was eventually woken up by a neighbour insistently ringing on his doorbell to alert him to the fact that the 135-metre-long vessel had embedded itself in nearby rocks. Local police from near Trondheim are trying to establish why the it ran aground but said there was no suspicion that drugs or alcohol were involved. #Norway #CargoShip #C4News #Channel4News

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