On Thursday morning, Johan Helberg discovered that his backyard view of a Norwegian fjord had been altered dramatically by the grounding of a large cargo ship, the NCL Salten, which occurred around 5 a.m. in Byneset, a district of Trondheim, Norway.
Mr. Helberg, who was asleep at the time, was alerted by a neighbor who informed him about the incident. He described the moment he looked out his window to see the ship towering over his home, just a few yards away from his bedroom. He noted that had the ship's trajectory been slightly different, it could have caused significant damage to his house.
Despite the shocking event, Mr. Helberg maintained his composure, stating, “I impressed myself by staying cool.” He remarked that while big ships occasionally pass by, they typically remain at a distance in deeper waters.
The Norwegian coastal authorities confirmed that there were no injuries or oil spills reported following the grounding. The 440-foot-long vessel had been en route to Orkanger when the incident occurred, and the cause of the grounding remains unclear.
Authorities indicated that as long as the ship remains stationary, there is no immediate danger. However, a clay landslide approximately 100 meters wide occurred, likely triggered by vibrations from the ship's grounding, prompting police to cordon off the area.
It was reported that there were 16 crew members aboard the ship, including a Norwegian captain and a crew comprising Russians and Ukrainians. Mr. Helberg mentioned that he and his partner communicated with the crew to check for injuries, but the crew did not address the grounding incident.
Bente Hetland, the chief executive of the company that chartered the ship, expressed gratitude that no injuries occurred and stated that an investigation into the cause of the grounding is underway. She noted that NCL and the ship's owner, Baltnautic, are cooperating with authorities to assess damage and plan for the vessel's safe refloating.
Efforts to pull the ship using a tugboat at high tide were unsuccessful, according to authorities. Mr. Helberg speculated that the ship may have misjudged its course while navigating the fjord's entrance, which requires a quick turn.
As of Thursday night, the ship remained grounded, and Mr. Helberg received numerous calls from friends and family, as well as inquiries from international news organizations. Online, his acquaintances expressed relief for his safety while humorously commenting on the unusual situation.
Mr. Helberg reflected on the beauty of the view from his home, noting that it is often regarded as one of the best in the Trondheimsfjord.