Russian Ship To Unload 20,000 Tons Of Dangerous Cargo At Great Yarmouth Port

The cargo ship MV Ruby, carrying 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate, is set to dock in the Port of Great Yarmouth on October 28, 2024.

After being anchored off the coast of Margate since September, the vessel will finally unload its hazardous cargo and undergo essential repairs after a grounding incident.

Since departing Kandalaksha, Russia, in August, MV Ruby has encountered several obstacles on its route to a safe port, including damage to its hull, propeller, and rudder due to bad weather conditions.

The weather forced the vessel to look for a European port for unloading and repairs.

While anchoring off Tromsø, Norway, and then asking permission to dock at Klaipeda, Lithuania, both locations denied access due to worries over the ship’s ammonium nitrate cargo, which is over seven times the amount of cargo in the 2020 Beirut explosion.

After extensive discussions, Serenity Ship Management DMCC, the managers of the MV Ruby and Peel Ports Group, reached an agreement that allowed the vessel to enter Great Yarmouth’s port for a transhipment operation.

Peel Ports Group confirmed that upon arrival, the MV Ruby will transfer its ammonium nitrate cargo to another vessel, after which both ships will depart. Ruby will then proceed to drydocks for repairs, as mandated by the DNV, the ship’s classification society.

A Serenity Ship Management DMCC representative thanked UK authorities and Peel Ports Group for facilitating the transhipment procedure, ensuring that the cargo currently poses no risk to surrounding areas.

Port Director Richard Goffin reassured the public that the Port of Great Yarmouth is well-equipped to handle hazardous cargo and adheres to strict safety practices mandated by UK regulations and international maritime standards.

He stated that the port crew has experience managing such cargo and that their approach meets the safety standards to ensure the safe handling and discharge of hazardous materials.

Sir Roger Gale, MP for the North Kent region, already addressed safety concerns, saying that the ammonium nitrate on board poses no immediate risk.

He added that safety precautions were carefully assessed and that the MV Ruby received approval from both the UK Government and the Department for Transport to enter UK waters.

The Maltese-flagged vessel, which had drifted closer to the UK coastline due to bad weather, has now been declared seaworthy. However, it requires specialized repairs, which can only begin once the cargo is removed.

Reference: theisleofthanetnews

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