A ship stranded at anchor off the Kent coast due to fears over its potentially explosive cargo poses “no threat in its current state”, its owners have reassured.
Ruby – a vessel registered and owned in Malta – is carrying about 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate from Russia but suffered damage soon after leaving port six weeks ago.
For more than a week, she has been located at an anchorage point about 15 miles off Margate – but is located in international waters – and being monitored by the UK Coastguard.
Due to the volume of the chemical on board – which is used in agricultural fertiliser – and the fact the ship has been damaged, she has not been allowed entry into any ports for long-term repairs.
The load is about seven times more than the amount which caused a devastating explosion in Beirut in 2020, killing 200 people, displacing 300,000 more and causing £15 billion worth of damage to the Lebanese capital.
But her owners said in a statement her safety certificates are fully compliant with the Maltese authorities and that “ammonium nitrate is a commonly transported cargo by this method”.
A spokesman for the ship’s owners added: “It poses no threat to the ship, crew or surrounding environment in the vessel’s current state.
“The vessel adheres to all international regulations and procedures through its flag state, Malta, maintains high technical standards for operation, is fully insured by a recognised international hull and machinery insurer, as well as an international group P&I (protection and indemnity) Club and is owned and operated in a fully legal and transparent manner.”
The company said speculation had led to a “negative prejudicial effect on the vessel’s ability to undergo, what would be considered, routine operations to transfer the cargo of ammonium nitrate to another vessel, so the Ruby can undergo repairs”.
Her voyage has been beset by problems – firstly suffering damage to the hull, rudder and propellers after grounding on the seabed shortly after leaving the north Russian port of Kandalaksha on August 22.
Having undergone temporary repairs in Tromso in Norway, she was cleared to return to sea by surveyors and the Maltese authorities on September 5 to find a port for permanent repairs while being under escort by tugs throughout the voyage.
But no ports have been willing to grant her passage into harbour.
To date, no agreement has been made to transfer the cargo to other ships to allow Ruby to continue on her way.
Some reports initially referred to the bulk carrier being Russian-owned – but it is owned by a Maltese firm and sails under the nation’s flag.
She was initially bound for the Maltese port of Marsaxlokk but the authorities there have also refused her entry over concerns about the size of the ship’s cargo and issues relating to the damage she sustained.
The ship’s owners said UK ports are also “reticent to take the vessel in” but are continuing to seek a solution.
The statement added: “The owners and managers would like to extend their sincere gratitude towards the UK authorities for their continuing support in helping to find a safe solution.
“Ship owners and managers are still hopeful that a solution can be found to assist in the current predicament in a safe manner.”
Logistics experts say the cargo poses a “huge challenge” to resolve the issue and ensure the ship can be repaired.
Marco Forgione, director general of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, earlier told KentOnline: “This is a really tricky and difficult issue, as no ports along the way are willing to accept the ship to try and address the challenges it faces due to its potential explosive cargo,” he added.
“With the reported damage it has sustained, to the hull, to the propeller and to the rudder, it’s close to impossible to try and resolve those issues while the ship is at sea.
“It does need to get to port, but quite frankly, no port is willing to take it with that amount of dangerous chemicals onboard. This really is a Gordian knot of complexity as to how this gets resolved.”
