Container Ship NCL Salten Removed from Shore After Running Aground in Residential Area

Photo by Norwegian Coastal Administration

On the morning of Thursday, May 22, Johan Helberg woke up to an unexpected sight: a 135-meter-long container ship stranded just meters from his backyard.

The NCL Salten (IMO: 9252773) was on its way to Orkanger when it ran aground along the shoreline at Byneset.

After nearly a week stuck in place, the ship was finally removed on Tuesday, May 27.

“It’s been nice meeting it, but now it’s goodbye,” Helberg told NRK.

Successful Salvage Operation

At 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, tugboats attached cables to the vessel and began the operation to free it from the shoreline. Within about 30 minutes, the ship was dislodged and pulled off the rocks. The job was carried out by the tugboat company Taubåtkompaniet.

“This went better than expected—far better than expected,” said Ole T. Bjørnevik to NRK. Bjørnevik is CEO of Taubåtkompaniet.

“With a tugboat on each end, it’s now just a matter of towing it to Orkanger,” continued Bjørnevik.

The two-hour journey ended with the ship docking at Orkanger, where the remaining containers were offloaded.

Video by Norwegian Coastal Administration

Inspection and Investigation Underway

Waiting in Orkanger was the Norwegian Maritime Authority, preparing to carry out a thorough inspection of the ship.

“We will board the vessel for a Port State Control inspection. Additionally, the classification society will conduct their own investigation on behalf of the flag state,” said Dag Inge Aarhus from the authority.

Registered in Cyprus, the vessel is subject to technical inspection by DNV, which will represent Cypriot maritime authorities.

A detailed report will be prepared based on the inspection findings. This could include mandatory repairs before the ship is allowed to continue its voyage. The inspection will also review crew procedures, rest times, and onboard routines.

Divers from Descent, the underwater inspection company, were also on site Tuesday afternoon to examine damage below the waterline.

“There’s likely bent metal and possibly some cracks. We need to get a full picture of the condition,” said Jenny Dreng, head of personnel and HSE at Descent.

Shipping Line Cooperates with Authorities

In a statement, shipowner North Sea Container Line expressed relief over the successful salvage.

“We continue to empathize with the neighbors who were evacuated from their homes and with everyone affected. We hope they can return home soon,” the company wrote.

The crew has stayed onboard since the grounding and helped with the salvage efforts.

“NCL continues to cooperate fully with the police investigation now that the vessel is safely docked in Orkanger. Our own internal review will also continue there,” the company added.

Unexpected Global Attention

The story of Johan waking up to find a container ship in his backyard quickly captured worldwide attention, with coverage by major outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

Locally, the spectacle of the massive container ship stuck in the shallows outside Trondheim drew crowds. Visitors arriving on foot and by bicycle caused traffic congestion as they came to see the unusual sight up close, according to NRK.