Stranded Cargo Ship Ruby Holds Massive Ammonium Nitrate Load Near U.K.

Cargo ship loaded with containers in blue ocean.

A cargo ship carrying 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate is stranded off the U.K. coast, sparking safety concerns.

At a Glance

  • The Maltese-flagged ship, Ruby, carries ammonium nitrate, a chemical used in explosives and fertilizer.
  • Previous attempts to dock in Norway and other NATO countries have failed.
  • Currently anchored outside U.K. territorial waters, the vessel waits to refuel at sea.
  • Authorities in Malta demand the cargo be offloaded before allowing entry.

Stranded at Sea

The Malta-flagged cargo ship Ruby sits marooned off the Kent coast, unable to find a port willing to accept its hazardous cargo of 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate. This volatile substance, a common fertilizer and explosive, has sparked fear of a potential disaster akin to Beirut 2020. Though Norwegian authorities declared the vessel seaworthy, it has faced rejections from Norway and other NATO members.

The Ruby’s odyssey began in Kandalaksha, Russia, in July, with an intended course toward Klaipeda, Lithuania, which denied entry due to the explosive cargo. Since then, it has been a troubling fixture off the U.K.’s coast, closely monitored by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Despite the fears, the agency insists the ship adheres to safety regulations.

Safety Concerns and Reactions

Lingering fears surrounding the situation have coined terms such as “floating bomb” to describe Ruby’s predicament. Public concerns are fueled by comparisons to explosive incidents, despite assurances from the ship’s owners. They emphasize that “it poses no threat to the ship, crew or surrounding environment in the vessel’s current state.”

Given its initial damage, discovered after a storm shortly post-departure, temporary repairs were completed in Tromso, Norway. However, its journey under escort by tugs has yet to find an end. Logistics experts express concern over the possibility that the vessel may encounter unforeseen impacts or leaks into the sea.

Path Forward

Currently, Ruby is anchored in international waters 15 miles off Margate, awaiting refueling before proceeding. Despite its stated destination as Marsaxlokk, Malta, the authorities demand cargo unloading before permitting entry. As a “ship that nobody wants,” in the words of a defense analyst, ports remain hesitant, complicating a resolution.

“This is a ship that nobody wants, but that nobody can get rid of.” – Jens Wenzel Kristoffersen, a defense analyst at Nordic Defense Analysis

The stakes require careful diplomatic and logistical handling to prevent environmental or civil disruptions. With ongoing media scrutiny, it falls to the international community to consider measures to manage this precarious situation, seeking solutions that avoid potential calamities and bring the Ruby’s voyage to safe harbor.

Sources:

  1. Ship carrying explosive fertiliser heads to UK waters
  2. Stranded cargo ship Ruby, anchored in North Sea off Kent coast near Margate, poses ‘no threat’ in its current state