A surreal early morning scene in Byneset near Trondheim left Johan Helberg stunned as a massive ship nearly crashed into his home, prompting investigations by authorities.
Norwegian Man Stunned to Find 135-Meter Ship in His Backyard After Near-Collision in Byneset
In a bizarre and startling incident in Norway, a man awoke to find a massive container ship practically in his backyard after it veered alarmingly close to his home in the early hours of May 22.
Johan Helberg, a resident of Byneset near Trondheim, was roused from sleep around 5:00 a.m. by persistent doorbell ringing—an unusual disruption that turned out to be the warning of a lifetime.
“I don’t usually like opening the door at that time,” Helberg told Sky News. “But the ringing was insistent, so I finally answered. A friend stood there in disbelief and said, ‘Have you not seen the ship?’”
What Helberg saw when he looked out his window was nothing short of surreal—a 135-meter-long vessel looming just meters away from his property. “I had to bend my neck to see the top,” he told The Guardian. “It was so unreal. Five meters more, and it would have entered my bedroom.”
The ship, identified as the NCL Salten, had been navigating the Trondheim Fjord en route to Orkanger with 16 people aboard. There were no reported injuries, and the Norwegian police are currently investigating the cause of the ship’s unexpected course deviation.
Neighbor Jostein Jorgensen, who first noticed the vessel approaching the shoreline, immediately rushed to alert Helberg. “I was sure he was already outside, but there was no sign of life,” Jorgensen recalled to BBC. “I rang the doorbell many times and eventually had to call him to wake him up.”
The vessel’s sudden appearance prompted awe and confusion among the local community. Helberg, ever the optimist, quipped to BBC, “It’s a very bulky new neighbor—but it will soon go away.”
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) managing director Bente Hetland released a statement acknowledging the incident and assuring the public of a full investigation: “At present time, we do not know what caused the incident and are awaiting the conclusion of the ongoing investigation by the relevant authorities.”
Though no damage or injuries occurred, the event has sparked discussions on navigational safety in the region—and left one Norwegian with a morning he’ll never forget.