Cargo Ship Crashes Into Norwegian Man’s Garden, Misses Home by Meters

The container ship ran aground in the Trondheimsfjord, Trondheim, Norway

A massive 135-meter-long cargo ship ran aground early Thursday morning in the Trondheimsfjord off Byneset, Trondheim, Norway, crashing into a residential front garden and narrowly missing the homeowner’s house by just a few meters.

Johan Helberg, the homeowner, was asleep inside his house when the incident occurred and remained unaware until a concerned neighbor came to check on him. “The doorbell rang at a time when I don’t really like opening the door,” Helberg said. “I like to go back to sleep. But it was a very insistent ring, so I finally went to answer it. And there’s a guy I know very well standing there, looking at me in amazement and saying: ‘Have you not seen the ship?’”

The container ship ran aground in the Trondheimsfjord, Trondheim, Norway

Helberg then looked out of his window and saw the massive vessel just outside his home. Photos from the scene show the ship came extremely close to crashing into the residence, causing shock in the normally quiet neighborhood.

Despite the dramatic scene, no injuries were reported, and there was no indication of an oil spill. Authorities have confirmed that the ship will be removed during high tide.

The ship will be refloated at high tide

Roger Gustafson of the local police confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. At this stage, there is no suspicion that the crew was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The near-miss has raised questions about maritime navigation safety in the Trondheimsfjord region and will likely prompt closer scrutiny of shipping routes near populated areas.