Captain and first officer charged after container ship ran aground near Trondheim home

A Dutch captain and a Ukrainian first officer have been charged after the 135-meter container ship MS NCL Salten ran aground near a residential house on Byneset in Trondheim on 22 May 2025, Dagbladet reports.

Prosecutors allege the captain failed to ensure the ship’s bridge watch alarm was activated and did not maintain adequate procedures for its use. The first officer is charged with failing to exercise sufficient caution or take necessary precautions, resulting in falling asleep alone on the bridge.

“The prosecution considers these violations serious, as they left the vessel effectively without active control for an extended period,” said police prosecutor Kjetil Bruland Sørensen of Trøndelag police district in a statement.

The ship struck ground at 05:42, coming to rest just eight meters from the bedroom window of a couple who woke to the sight of it. No injuries were reported.

MS NCL Salten had previously run aground in Tømmervika, Hadsel, in October 2023 but freed itself without assistance.