OSLO, Norway (AP) – Norwegian prosecutors have formally charged the second officer of the cargo ship NCL Salten with negligent navigation following an incident where the vessel ran aground. This event occurred early Thursday morning, around 6 a.m., and the ship narrowly avoided crashing into a nearby home on the coast of the Trondheim Fjord.

The NCL Salten was carrying 16 individuals at the time of the incident, and fortunately, there were no injuries reported. Additionally, authorities confirmed that no oil spills occurred as a result of the grounding. Johan Helberg, a local resident, reported that he slept through the entire incident and was only alerted when a neighbor began ringing his doorbell. Images shared from the scene depict the ship’s red and green bow positioned just meters away from Helberg's house.

The second officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, was responsible for navigation duties during the time of the grounding, according to prosecutor Kjetil Bruland Sørensen. After the incident, efforts were made to remove containers from the ship to facilitate its extraction from the area. Crews have continued this work throughout the week.

NCL, the shipping company operating the NCL Salten, stated that they are actively cooperating with local investigators as inquiries into the incident are underway. The incident has raised concerns about maritime safety and the responsibilities of personnel aboard vessels.

This situation marks a significant maritime event in Norway, highlighting the critical nature of vigilance and duty while navigating large vessels in potentially hazardous areas such as the Trondheim Fjord. Residents have expressed relief that no injuries or environmental damage occurred, but the event has nonetheless prompted discussions regarding adherence to safety protocols by maritime operators.