Russian 'floating bomb' finally docks at British port safely
The Russian freighter "Ruby," nicknamed the "floating bomb," received permission to dock at a British port after weeks of waiting. The decision was delayed due to the presence of 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate on board—a quantity seven times greater than what exploded in Beirut in 2020.
The ship "Ruby" had been anchored for several weeks off the coast of Margate in Kent County, England, due to concerns that the cargo being transported was too dangerous to pass through the busy Straits of Dover. Currently, the vessel has docked at Gorleston-on-Sea, near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, after being rejected by several other ports.
According to the "Daily Mail," the ship is located just a few hundred metres from residential areas and nearby elementary and secondary schools. "Ruby" arrived in the Kent area at the end of September after having to leave a Norwegian port on September 4th due to concerns about the cargo, just three days after it docked there to seek shelter from a storm.
The Malta-flagged freighter was loaded with 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate at the port of Kandalaksha in northern Russia on August 22nd, then set off towards Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. According to the "Daily Mail," the ship carries seven times more than the 2,700 tonnes that exploded in the port of Beirut, Lebanon in 2020, resulting in 218 deaths.
Russian ship docked in England
MP Sir Roger Gale from the Herne Bay and Sandwich constituency stated that the cargo is safe, following a meeting with Transport Minister Mike Kane earlier this month. "I have been informed that the Class 2 ammonium nitrate cargo, originally intended for Africa, is safe," he wrote on platform X.
"Due to damage to the ship, which did not render it unseaworthy but requires repair, negotiations are underway concerning unloading," added Sir Roger Gale. The ship "Ruby" sustained damage to its propeller, hull, and rudder.
The ammonium nitrate transported by "Ruby" is commonly used in fertilizers. It is relatively safe when stored properly, but if improperly stored in large amounts, it can pose a risk of explosion.
