Second officer charged with negligent navigation over last week’s high-profile grounding in Norway

A Ukrainian second officer aboard the container vessel NCL Salten has been charged with negligent navigation following a grounding incident early Thursday morning near Trondheim, Norway. The ship ran aground just meters from a summer home in Byneset, narrowly avoiding significant property damage.

The officer admitted to falling asleep while on watch at the time of the incident, which occurred around 5:30 a.m. local time. The grounding caused minor damage to the homeowner’s heating system but resulted in no injuries to the 16 crewmembers aboard. The Norwegian Maritime Authority and Trøndelag Police are investigating whether proper manning requirements and rest hours were maintained.

The NCL Salten, a 135 m container feeder vessel, was en route to Orkanger when it veered off course and ran aground in a busy stretch, having completed three port calls within the last 24 hours before the grounding. The ship remains embedded near the homeowner’s property with the Norwegian Coastal Administration overseeing the salvage operation.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about fatigue and watchkeeping practices in the maritime industry. The Norwegian Maritime Authority has previously issued safety messages emphasizing the importance of adhering to rest hour regulations and maintaining proper watchkeeping arrangements to prevent accidents .