A Norwegian timber carrier stuck under the Svinesund Bridge between Sweden and Norway has been freed. The vessel ran aground around 1 AM on Thursday morning.
Authorities received the alert at 2:30 AM, but the ship had already been grounded for over an hour. Rescue crews worked throughout the day to free the vessel.
By 3 PM Thursday afternoon, two tugboats successfully pulled the ship free. The vessel will now be towed to Halden, Norway for inspection.
No injuries were reported in the grounding incident, according to the Swedish Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has opened a preliminary investigation into negligence in maritime traffic.
Officials confirmed they don't suspect alcohol was involved. The investigation will determine what caused the ship to run aground under the international bridge.
The Svinesund Bridge connects Sweden and Norway across the Iddefjord. This major border crossing sees heavy traffic between the two Nordic countries.
Grounding incidents in busy shipping lanes raise questions about navigation safety. This marks another case where quick response prevented environmental damage to the sensitive Nordic coastal waters.