Swedish authorities are investigating why a second bulk carrier has run aground in the Øresund region in less than a week, sparking concerns over navigational safety in the shipping corridor.
The latest incident occurred on Saturday, May 31, when the Panama-flagged Meshka (35 829 dwt) grounded near Landhrona, Sweden, 40 nautical miles (74km) north of the site of another grounding last Sunday. However, local authorities have reported that similarities between the two cases appear to be limited at this stage.
The Meshka, which was sailing from Tarragona, Spain, to the Russian port of Vysotsk near the Finnish border, veered from the designated shipping lane, according to Swedish media.
The Swedish Maritime Administration’s traffic centre (VTS) issued a warning at around 10h00 on Saturday, but the crew either did not react or were unable to correct course in time.
The vessel, which was carrying only fuel and ballast, has a draft of seven metres and grounded in water just three metres deep.
Emergency teams, including two rescue vessels and personnel from the local Coast Guard and Swedish Maritime Administration, responded at the scene. None of the 24 crew members was injured, and no oil leaks or immediate damage were detected.
The Coast Guard launched a preliminary investigation into possible deficiencies in seamanship, which has now been handed to the Swedish Prosecution Authority. Sobriety checks revealed no signs of intoxication among the crew.
Divers who inspected the 180-metre-long vessel on Saturday night reported that most of the hull was resting on sand and that there was no visible external damage.
The ship has approximately 938 000 litres of oil and lubricants on board, which has raised concerns about potential environmental risks if conditions worsen.
Authorities said the vessel’s owner, a Dubai-based company, must present an approved salvage plan before any attempt to refloat the vessel.
Both the Meshka and the Ali Aykin, which ran aground last week near the Øresund Bridge, have a history of operational issues.
During a port state inspection in Immingham, UK, in September 2024, the Meshka was detained for 18 days after inspectors found 23 deficiencies, including structural, fire safety, and crew training concerns. A follow-up inspection in Spain in May 2025 found no major problems.
Meanwhile, the Ali Aykin remains stranded with confirmed hull damage and water ingress.
