Article text:
In a surreal turn of events, a man in Byneset, Norway, was jolted awake early Thursday morning to find a massive cargo ship lodged in his front garden. The 135-meter long vessel, identified as the NCL Salten, had run aground just meters away from Johan Helberg's home around 05:00 local time (03:00 GMT).
The unexpected visitor was highlighted by Mr. Helberg's neighbor, Jostein Jorgensen, who observed the ship racing towards shore and rushed to alert the seemingly oblivious homeowner. "The doorbell rang at a time of day when I don't like to open," Helberg recounted to TV2. "When I went to the window, I was astonished to see a big ship. I had to bend my neck to see the top of it. It felt so unreal."
Neighbors reported that the sound of the ship had been alarming, echoing through the predawn hours as it barreled toward the land. Jorgensen, initially thinking Helberg was outside, knocked repeatedly on his door before finally reaching him by phone. "I was sure that he was already outside, but when I saw the ship, I realized he needed to be warned," he told the media.
The NCL Salten, flying a Cypriot flag and carrying 16 crew members, was on a trajectory towards Orkanger when it deviated from its course and crashed onto the land. Thankfully, the incident did not result in any injuries, prompting local authorities to launch an investigation to determine the cause of the significant mishap.
"It's a very bulky new neighbor, but it will soon go away," Helberg remarked, maintaining a sense of humor about the intimidating new addition to his garden. Interestingly, reports indicate that this was not the ship's first grounding, as it had run aground previously in 2023 yet managed to free itself. As investigations continue, the community is left to marvel at this unusual chapter in the quiet life of Byneset.
In a surreal turn of events, a man in Byneset, Norway, was jolted awake early Thursday morning to find a massive cargo ship lodged in his front garden. The 135-meter long vessel, identified as the NCL Salten, had run aground just meters away from Johan Helberg's home around 05:00 local time (03:00 GMT).
The unexpected visitor was highlighted by Mr. Helberg's neighbor, Jostein Jorgensen, who observed the ship racing towards shore and rushed to alert the seemingly oblivious homeowner. "The doorbell rang at a time of day when I don't like to open," Helberg recounted to TV2. "When I went to the window, I was astonished to see a big ship. I had to bend my neck to see the top of it. It felt so unreal."
Neighbors reported that the sound of the ship had been alarming, echoing through the predawn hours as it barreled toward the land. Jorgensen, initially thinking Helberg was outside, knocked repeatedly on his door before finally reaching him by phone. "I was sure that he was already outside, but when I saw the ship, I realized he needed to be warned," he told the media.
The NCL Salten, flying a Cypriot flag and carrying 16 crew members, was on a trajectory towards Orkanger when it deviated from its course and crashed onto the land. Thankfully, the incident did not result in any injuries, prompting local authorities to launch an investigation to determine the cause of the significant mishap.
"It's a very bulky new neighbor, but it will soon go away," Helberg remarked, maintaining a sense of humor about the intimidating new addition to his garden. Interestingly, reports indicate that this was not the ship's first grounding, as it had run aground previously in 2023 yet managed to free itself. As investigations continue, the community is left to marvel at this unusual chapter in the quiet life of Byneset.
