On May 31, the 180-meter cargo vessel Meshka (IMO: 9588380) ran aground in the Öresund Strait near Landskrona, Sweden. The ship was sailing in ballast from Skagen to Vysotsk when it deviated from its intended course.
According to the Swedish Coast Guard, the crew had been warned in advance about the navigational risk but failed to take corrective action, resulting in the grounding. The vessel came to rest on a sandy seabed. No injuries were reported among the 24 crew members on board, and the hull appeared to be undamaged.
Several Coast Guard units were dispatched to the scene. The crew underwent questioning, and all tested negative for alcohol. Preliminary findings suggest that the crew had sufficient time to correct the course, raising concerns about negligence.
Swedish prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation and are considering charges against the crew. Authorities have requested a salvage plan from the ship’s owners, which must be approved by the Coast Guard and relevant Swedish agencies.
At the time of the incident, approximately 938 tonnes of fuel oil were on board. The Coast Guard is closely monitoring the vessel for any signs of pollution and has stated that response measures will be taken immediately if necessary.
