Second Officer Arrested After Feeder Ship Grounding in Norway

The Trøndelag Police District in Norway has reported the arrest of the second officer of the feeder ship, NCL Salten, following a grounding incident that nearly resulted in the vessel hitting a house along a fjord. The officer, a Ukrainian citizen in his 30s, confessed to falling asleep while navigating the ship, leading to his arrest on charges of “negligent navigation.”

According to AIS signals, the vessel entered Trondheim fjord at a normal speed of 16 knots but failed to make a required turn to starboard, resulting in the grounding early on Thursday morning. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on compliance with crew rest regulations and the actions of the vessel’s captain, who is also a suspect in the case.

Kjetil Bruland Sørensen, the prosecutor in Trøndelag Police District, stated, “The focus of the investigation is to establish the sequence of events leading to this incident and assess whether the bridge was manned in accordance with regulations.”

Efforts to refloat the 443-foot containership have been hampered, with reports of damage to the forecastle and ballast tanks. The Norwegian Coastal Administration is overseeing salvage operations and monitoring potential environmental impacts, including a landslide near the grounding site.

The shipping company is responsible for salvage operations, with the Administration reviewing the plan to ensure minimal pollution and damage risks. While no timeline has been provided for refloating the vessel, preparations are underway to address the damage and prevent further environmental harm.