Damaged ship loaded with ammonium nitrate stuck in Norwegian waters

A Russia-linked bulk carrier with a potentially explosive cargo of 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate is being closely monitored by authorities in Northern Europe as it seeks refuge to carry out repairs after suffering damage in a severe storm.

The 37,000 dwt open hatch carrier Ruby, which was set to cross the Great Belt strait between the Danish islands of Zealand and Funen this weekend under tow and with a pilot onboard to help navigate the safest route, has become stranded in Norwegian waters.

The ship’s stated destination is Lithuania, but the country has refused the vessel entry unless it offloads its cargo before arriving. The Ruby was originally headed from the Russian city of Kandalaksha to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands but ran aground and sustained damage to its propeller, hull, and rudder. The ship later anchored in Tromsø, Norway, only to be turned away by the authorities due to safety concerns.

Vessel tracker MarineTraffic showed that the Malta-flagged ship had been standing still in the same spot in Norwegian waters on Monday, while Danish news outlets quote the country’s maritime authority saying the shipowner is still seeking a port where the dangerous cargo can be safely unloaded.

Sweden is also keeping a watchful eye on Ruby’s movements. The country’s coast guard said Sunday the vessel was still awaiting instructions on the continued route.

The 2012-built 183-m-long Ruby, listed in databases as managed by the UAE-based Serenity Ship Management, carries seven times the amount of ammonium nitrate that caused the 2020 port explosion in Beirut, which killed over 200 people.

Although transports of ammonium nitrate are common and take place to and from Swedish ports daily, the coast guard said that there are factors that make it important to follow the ship, above all its technical problems, and that it may be towed in traffic-intensive sea areas.

Swedish authorities noted, however, that the risk of explosion “should be considered low at this time”, adding that ammonium nitrate is not an explosive in itself but can become explosive under certain circumstances.