The Russian MV Ruby has been turned away from several European countries but will be allowed to dock in Great Yarmouth Port today.
12:33, Mon, Oct 28, 2024 | UPDATED: 13:29, Mon, Oct 28, 2024
The MV Ruby is due to arrive in Great Yarmouth today. (Image: GETTY/Vessel Finder)
A Russian cargo ship carrying 20,000 lbs of explosive ammonium nitrate will dock at Great Yarmouth Port later today, according to a local politician.
The MV Ruby was seen near the Kent Coast in September after being kicked out of a Norwegian port over concerns about its cargo.
The vessel docked at the Tromso after running aground during a storm and sustaining damage to its storm propeller, hull and rudder.
But authorities asked the vessel to leave after several days amid fears from locals about the cargo.
Four years ago, an explosion caused by 2,750 of the fertilizer killed 218 and injured more than 7,000 in Beruit, Lebanon.
The port area of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. (Image: Getty)
Authorities in Lithuania and Malta also turned the ship away after saying it could only dock if the fertiliser was offloaded first.
But the damaged vessel has granted permission to dock in the UK.
Earlier this month the MP for Herne Bay and Sandwich, Sir Roger Gale, said he was "advised that the cargo is safe", explaining in a post X that "Due to damage to the ship which has not rendered the vessel unseaworthy but requires repair", negotiations were ongoing to unload the cargo.
He said he was "led to believe the ship itself is neither Russian-owned nor flagged, so no international law has been broken".
The Maltese-registered vessel set off from Kandalaksha, a port in northern Russian in July with cargo originally destined for Africa, according to Sir Roger.
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Richard Goffin, the director of Great Yarmouth Port, has now confirmed that the MV Ruby will dock on the Norfolk coast today, Great Yarmouth Mercury reports.
According to Marine Insight, the ship will finally unload its hazardous cargo and make essential repairs after being anchored off the coast of Margate since September.
The MV Ruby will transfer its cargo to another vessel, after which both ships will depart with the Ruby heading to drydocks for repairs, as required by the ship’s classification society, DNV.
Goffin reassured the residents that the port is well-equipped to handle hazardous cargo and that it follows strict safety practices in line with international maritime standards and UK regulations.
Serenity Ship Management, the ship's management company, said the load represented "no risk to the surrounding area in its present state".
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