Maltese cargo ship denied EU entry amid explosion fears
The damaged bulk carrier Ruby, flying the Maltese flag and carrying Russian fertilisers, has not been permitted entry into EU ports for several weeks, reports "The New York Times". There is concern that thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate could explode.
According to journalists, on 22 August, the bulk carrier Ruby departed from the port in Kandalaksha, Murmansk region in Russia. It was scheduled to deliver a cargo of 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate to Africa. However, shortly after leaving port, the ship ran aground, damaging the hull and propeller, among other things.
Bulk carrier with a "megabomb"
This situation forced the ship's captain to navigate the coasts of the Nordic countries in search of assistance. Norway permitted the damaged ship to enter the port in Tromsø, where it remained from 1 September to 4 September. While in Norway, the ship was inspected, and minor repairs were carried out.
Inspectors concluded that the damage did not affect the cargo and that the fertiliser itself did not pose a threat, yet they redirected the ship elsewhere for further repairs.
Inspectors also insisted that the bulk carrier Ruby should be accompanied by a tugboat.
The crew planned to head to the Baltic Sea for repairs intended to be conducted in Lithuania. However, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonytė stated that the bulk carrier would not be allowed to enter the port.
"Warned about possible Russian sabotage"
The Maltese authorities also denied the ship permission to dock despite it flying the Maltese flag and being owned by a company registered in the country. The authorities decided that the ammonium nitrate must be removed from the ship before entering the port.
The bulk carrier then sailed north, heading towards the United Kingdom. As the ship neared the UK, the former Lithuanian ambassador to the UK, Eitvydas Bajarūnas, wrote in an op-ed for a European advisory team that the ship was a "floating megabomb". In response, Bajarūnas warned about possible Russian sabotage.
"Unfortunately, due to the media speculation that has surrounded this vessel, port terminals in the U.K. are reticent to take the vessel in", stated Serenity Shipping, a company based in the Emirates that operates the ship.
Fearing a repeat of Beirut
As noted by the NYT, Europe fears a recurrence of the incident that occurred in the port of Beirut, where on 4 August 2020, 3,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate exploded.
The explosion was caused by welding work in a warehouse where ammonium nitrate was stored. As a result, 280 people lost their lives, another 7,000 were injured, and around 300,000 were left homeless.
The economic losses caused by the disaster exceeded $15 billion. Following the explosion, protests erupted in the country, ultimately leading to the resignation of the Lebanese government.
