Damaged MV Ruby Docks at Great Yarmouth Amid Concerns Over Explosive Cargo

The MV Ruby, a cargo ship carrying a significant amount of potentially explosive fertilizer, docked at the Port of Great Yarmouth on Monday, Peel Ports Group and AIS ship tracking data has confirmed.

The move comes after weeks of uncertainty and concerns over the ship’s hazardous cargo.

The vessel, which has been moored off the UK coast, has been the subject of intense scrutiny due to its cargo of 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate – more than seven times the amount involved in the devastating 2020 Beirut blast. The ship, which had originally loaded its cargo in Russia in late August, sustained damage to its hull and propeller in early September during adverse weather conditions, requiring repairs.

The damaged vessel subsequently sought refuge in Europe. It first arrived at an anchorage in Tromso, Norway in early September, but was ordered to leave. Ruby then requested permission to dock at Klaipeda in Lithuania, which also refused due to the hazardous nature of the cargo.

“The Port of Great Yarmouth will safely welcome the MV Ruby on 28 October, in order to fulfil our obligations as Statutory Harbour Authority and assist the vessel with transhipment of its cargo,” said Richard Goffin, Port Director for the Port of Great Yarmouth. “The Port of Great Yarmouth has the capability to handle hazardous materials and the discharge and transhipment of such materials and cargo is common practice across our port group.

Goffin further assured, “Our team is well-versed in implementing rigorous safety protocols and we strictly adhere to all UK safety regulations and international maritime standards.”

The decision to allow the MV Ruby into UK waters has been approved by the UK Government and The Department for Transport.

Sir Roger Gale, MP for Herne Bay and Sandwich, after meeting with Shipping Minister Mike Kane last week, stated that the cargo is safe. “I do not believe my constituents face any threat to their security as a result of the presence of this vessel eleven miles off the North Kent coast,” he wrote on X.

The Maltese-flagged vessel was initially anchored in the European Economic Zone but moved closer to shore due to inclement weather in the North Sea. While the damage has not rendered the ship unseaworthy, it requires repairs, which can only be carried out after the cargo is unloaded.

“We take our responsibilities as Statutory Harbour Authority incredibly seriously and work closely with the relevant regulatory bodies to maintain full compliance. Our role is to ensure that the MV Ruby is able to safely discharge and continue with its onward journey,” added Goffin.