Overview

• The 443-foot NCL Salten ran aground in Johan Helberg's yard on May 22, narrowly missing his cabin, while he slept through the incident.
• The helmsman, a Ukrainian second officer, admitted to falling asleep on duty and has been charged with negligent navigation under Norway's Ship Safety and Security Act.
• Norwegian police are investigating whether bridge-manning and work/rest-hour regulations were adhered to, with the ship's captain also named as a suspect.
• This is the third grounding of the NCL Salten in recent years, following incidents in 2023 and 2024, raising concerns about systemic safety issues.
• The Norwegian Coastal Administration is coordinating ongoing salvage efforts, with the ship secured on-site and awaiting geotechnical assessments for refloating.