Baltic Arrow cargo ship stuck in River Nene near Wisbech

Residents flocked to the scene to view the Baltic Arrow, which ran around two miles downstream from Wisbech Port just before 9am.

The incident echoes a similar event in 2021 when a cargo vessel became stuck in the Suez Canal, blocking the global shipping lane.

The 200,000-ton Ever Given drifted across the width of the Canal before becoming lodged for several days in March 2021.  

The vessel is almost 80m long and 12.16m wide and was carrying timber to Wisbech from Riga in Latvia.

Efforts were made to free the ship using a tug boat earlier today, but without success.

The cargo ship is sailing under the flag of St Kitts and Nevis and there are six crew members and two local pilots on board. There have been no reports of injuries or damage.

A local resident told the Wisbech Standard: "The tide was out so there was very little water and you can see the full extent of the damage.

"The rear of the boat was jammed into the bank and the front was buried deep into the bank on the other side. 

"It looks like they would need an excavator to dig it out, there were no other boats or tugs about and I saw two crewman walking up and down the side of the ship and what looked like the captain on the end on the phone.

"The river is completely blocked and nothing will get past it."

A bystander told the Wisbech Standard that the full extent of the damage is visible. (Image: Charlie Brittain)

The rear of the boat is understood to be jammed into the river bank. (Image: Chris Bishop)

The incident echoes a similar event in 2021 when a cargo vessel named the Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal. (Image: Chris Bishop)

The Baltic Arrow became grounded around two miles downstream from Wisbech Port. (Image: Charlie Brittain)