Unexpected Visitor: Cargo Ship Grounds in Norwegian Man’s Garden

Johan Helberg woke to a surreal scene when a large container ship, the NCL Salten, unexpectedly ran aground in his garden, prompting an investigation by local authorities.

In a surprising turn of events in Norway, a man woke up to find a colossal container ship lodged in his garden. At around 5:00 AM local time, Johan Helberg was alerted to the peculiar situation when his neighbor, Jostein Jorgensen, rushed over to inform him of the approaching ship. The 135-meter (443-foot) vessel, the NCL Salten, had veered off its intended path while navigating the Trondheim Fjord and crashed perilously close to Helberg's home in Byneset, nearly missing it by mere meters.

"I was astonished to see a big ship through my window," Helberg recounted in an interview with television channel TV2. "I had to bend my neck to see the top of it. It was so unreal." Jorgensen, who had been awoken by the loud noise of the ship, initially thought Helberg might already be outside when he knocked on the door multiple times. "It was only when I called him on the phone that I managed to reach him," he stated.

The cargo ship, flying a Cypriot flag and carrying a crew of 16, was en route to Orkanger when it found itself adrift despite being under power. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident, and local authorities are currently investigating the circumstances leading to the grounding. "It's a very bulky new neighbor but it will soon go away," Helberg noted, as the community comes to grips with its unusual maritime visitor.

Interestingly, this incident marks the second time the NCL Salten has run aground this year, with the vessel having previously gotten free under its own power. As investigations continue, this extraordinary event has left a lasting impression on the residents of Byneset, who are likely to remember it as a surreal chapter in their local history.