Groundings at sea can happen fast, but recovery demands experience, equipment, and collaboration. At a recent Maritime Forum breakfast seminar, participants from industry and research shared insights into the causes of groundings, emerging prevention tools, and how Norwegian offshore company BOA carried out a successful salvage of the grounded vessel NCL Salten near Trondheim in May.

Hagbart Alsos from SINTEF Ocean opened the seminar with a data-driven overview of grounding incidents in Norwegian waters. According to statistics from the Norwegian Coastal Administration, 67% of groundings are caused by human error, with technical failures and environmental conditions making up the rest. The extent of the damage varies depending on seabed conditions, vessel type, and weather.

To prevent future incidents, SINTEF is working on several forward-looking projects. A simulation tool developed with Kongsberg Digital and Equinor helps maritime operators assess damage and plan recovery using dynamic ballasting. SINTEF is also leading a Research Council–funded initiative on emergency towing, in collaboration with the Coast Guard and other partners, to reduce the risk of drifting vessels running aground.

Anders Penna, BOA Offshore. Foto: Ellen Weidemann

A complex operation—successfully executed

One of the highlights of the seminar was a detailed walk-through of a real salvage operation. Anders Penna from BOA Offshore presented the recovery of NCL Salten, a cargo vessel that grounded near Byneset in May. The grounding was serious, and BOA’s Salvage Team was mobilized immediately. A commercial salvage contract was signed within 24 hours.

The team had to deal with multiple risks, including the potential for landslides, damaged tanks, and the vessel’s stability. On May 25, BOA began offloading 1,300 tonnes of cargo to barges for transport to Orkanger Port. Two days later, during high tide, tugboats BOA Brage and BOA Balder successfully refloated the vessel. After confirming no oil spills or other environmental damage, the ship was cleared to sail to Orkanger.

– Aside from hull damage, no harm was done to people, the environment, or cargo. By that standard, this was a successful operation, said Penna.

Hagbart Alsos, SINTEF Ocean. Foto: Ellen Weidemann

Relevance for the autonomous maritime sector

For members of Ocean Autonomy Cluster, the seminar reinforced the need for integrated, technology-driven solutions to reduce risk and improve emergency response. Whether it’s through improved simulation, autonomous navigation support, or smarter vessel monitoring, the future of maritime safety will rely on proactive innovation and seamless collaboration across sectors.