A damaged bulker carrying a potentially explosive cargo of ammonium nitrate continues to be an international pariah after its flag state of Malta denied it entry.
AIS data shows the Dubai-controlled 37,000-dwt open-hatch carrier Ruby (built 2012) anchored in the English Channel off Kent on Thursday after being turned away by Norway, Lithuania and Sweden.
The vessel is signalling the Maltese port of Marsaxlokk as its destination by 8 October.
But Malta Today cited a transport ministry spokesperson as saying the vessel has not been given permission to dock.
“The ship will only be allowed to port in Malta if it empties the cargo. If not, it will not be allowed to enter Maltese territorial waters,” the spokesperson said.
A request was made by the master to berth for repairs.
Denmark imposed restrictions on a potential transit of the Baltic this week, including requiring a pilot to be on board.
The bulker is carrying a 20,000-tonne cargo.
A much smaller quantity of ammonium nitrate caused the devastating blast in the port of Beirut, Lebanon, that killed at least 218 people in 2020.
The Ruby was damaged in a storm en route from Russia.
UK shipbroker Clarksons reported the ship grounded on 26 August off Tromso in Norway.
Six faults
Norwegian inspectors later found six faults, including hull cracking, and detained the ship for a week.
It was already known to have sustained damage to its propeller, hull and rudder in a storm.
The ship sailed from the Russian city of Kandalaksha on 23 August, bound for the Canary Islands.
Shipping databases list the operator as Dubai’s Serenity Ship Management, which has not responded to requests for comment.
