Second Officer Faces Charges Following Containership Grounding Off Norwegian Coast

A ukrainian Second Officer is facing charges for negligent navigation after the containership NCL Salten ran aground near Trondheim last Thursday. The officer, in his thirties, confessed to dozing off while on watch, wich led to the vessel straying off course. This 135-meter ship ended up just seven meters from a nearby residential cabin in Byneset.

At the time of the incident, the ship was cruising at around 16 knots. Fortunately, all 16 crew members aboard this Cyprus-registered vessel were unharmed. kjetil bruland Sørensen, a prosecutor with Trøndelag Police District, mentioned that investigators are looking into weather proper bridge manning protocols were followed adn if regulations regarding work and rest hours were adhered to.

As part of standard procedure following such incidents, the captain has also been identified as a suspect. Authorities have gathered necessary documentation related to the case and have reached out to the Norwegian Maritime Authority for further assistance.

Local resident Johan Helberg shared his relief with reporters: “We were sleeping just seven meters away from where it grounded and didn’t hear anything… if it had veered slightly differently, our house could have been hit.”

The Norwegian Coastal Administration will manage efforts to salvage the vessel. Officials confirmed that despite being charged, the officer will not be held in custody.

In maritime safety discussions like these, it’s crucial to consider how different cultures approach navigational training and crew management. As an example, Japan emphasizes rigorous training programs that include simulations for emergency situations—something that could possibly prevent incidents like this one from occurring in Norway or elsewhere.

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