Cargo Ship Loaded With Explosive Ammonium Nitrate Requests Emergency Port In Norway

The Ruby, a cargo ship registered in Malta, has sought an emergency port in Tromsø harbour, Norway, after sustaining hull damage during a grounding.

The ship transporting 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate, a potentially explosive chemical compound, arrived in Kandalaksha, Russia, over the weekend.

The ship remains detained at the port as Norwegian authorities try to find a safe solution.

Anita Hermandsen, Chief of the Tromsø Police station, highlighted the need to identify risks and requirements for the ship’s anchoring, relocation and repair to ensure safety.

The tugboats arrived on Tuesday to tow the Ruby from Tromsø harbour to an anchorage. The final anchoring point is still being determined.

According to Dag Inge Aarhus, communications director at the Norwegian Maritime Authority, the ship will undergo minor repairs to obtain limited permission to sail or to be towed to an agreed-upon shipyard.

Multiple authorities, including the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB), police, Norwegian Maritime Authority, and Tromsø Harbour, are managing the incident.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration is also advising and assisting with the vessel’s relocation.

The situation has been described as a port emergency due to the hazardous nature of the cargo. Authorities are responding to similar concerns raised during the Beirut explosion, where ammonium nitrate was involved.

Tromsø police described the effort to relocate the bulker to a safer location as completely ordinary.

Initial Port State control inspections revealed hull damage, leading to the detention of the cargo ship.

The Ruby, weighing 37,000 tons, entered the Norwegian economic zone on August 25, 2024, and sought refuge from a storm before arriving at Tromsø on August 26.

The vessel had grounded while en route from Kandalaksha to the Canary Islands, causing damage to its hull, propeller and rudder.

The Norwegian authorities found the ship’s cargo and damage after it anchored and ordered temporary repairs before granting permission for extensive work at a shipyard.

The Directorate for Social Security and Emergency Preparedness has confirmed the vessel’s cargo and is working with the Norwegian Coastal Agency to relocate it from Tromsø city centre.

Tromsø, with a population of roughly 40,000 and up to 78,000 in the surrounding areas, is a popular tourist destination and the world’s northernmost city.

As of September 3, 2024, the Ruby remains docked at a downtown location, awaiting further action.

Reference: TradeWinds

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