Ship Officer Charged After Asleep at the Wheel Causes Crash into Garden

Investigators have charged a watch officer with negligent navigation after a cargo ship he was piloting ran aground in a resident's garden while he reportedly fell asleep on duty.

The watch officer of a massive container ship that crashed into a front garden in Norway has disclosed to authorities that he was asleep at the time of the incident. The 135-meter-long vessel, known as the NCL Salten and registered under the Cypriot flag, encountered the mishap early Thursday morning in Byneset, near Trondheim. The incident has led to charges of negligent navigation against the Ukrainian national in his thirties, who was the sole officer on watch when the ship veered off course.

While the ship narrowly avoided a residential house, coming within mere feet of entering the property, local authorities are probing whether the crew adhered to work and rest regulations. Prosecutors from the Trondelag Police District remarked on the seriousness of the situation, emphasizing that the officer’s admission of dozing off during duty directly contributed to the vessel's grounding.

Johan Helberg, a homeowner affected by the incident, recounted the surreal experience of waking up to find the ship emblazoned in his garden. He relayed to the Guardian how he had to tilt his neck at an awkward angle just to glimpse the vessel's top, describing the moment of panic triggered by a neighbor’s warning. "Five meters further south and it would have entered the bedroom," said Helberg, underscoring the disaster narrowly averted.

Reports indicate this is not the first time the NCL Salten has encountered trouble; earlier in 2023, the cargo ship had run aground but managed to dislodge itself. Despite ongoing attempts to refloat the vessel after the latest incident, efforts have not yet yielded success. No injuries occurred, but the consequences of negligence during navigation have sparked significant concern and scrutiny over maritime operations and safety protocols.