Russian ‘floating bomb’ stranded off UK coast after multiple port rejections

A cargo ship carrying 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, significantly more than the amount that caused the 2020 Beirut port explosion, has been spotted off the Kent coast after being turned away from multiple ports.

Though there is no suggestion of immediate danger from the cargo, the Maltese-flagged vessel, Ruby, has been dubbed a “floating bomb” due to the explosive potential of ammonium nitrate — a chemical commonly used in fertiliser but also capable of being used in explosives under certain conditions. It has been seeking a port for repairs following damage sustained during its journey from Kandalaksha, Russia.

The 2020 Beirut explosion killed over 100 people and left thousands injured. The countdown to that had started more than six years ago when a troubled, Russian-leased cargo ship, Rhosus, made an unscheduled stop at the city’s port, later being abandoned. This led to over 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate being unloaded to a dockside warehouse in Beirut, causing the tragedy several years later.

The Ruby, owned by Maltese firm Ruby Enterprise, ran aground shortly after departing Russia, cracking its hull and damaging its rudder and propeller. After the incident, it continued with a tugboat escort and made an emergency stop in Tromsø, Norway, where local authorities inspected the vessel, finding six deficiencies including the cracked hull, rudder issues, and expired crew documents. While Ruby was deemed “seaworthy with precautions” by the Norwegian authorities, the ship was ordered to leave Tromsø due to concerns about its proximity to a hospital and university campus.

Jens Wenzel Kristoffersen, a defence analyst at Nordic Defense Analysis, raised concerns about the environmental risks posed by the damaged ship. “It has cracks in the hull. It has rudder problems. It can no longer sail by itself but must be towed,” he told Danish media. “This is a ship that nobody wants, but that nobody can get rid of.”

Since leaving Norway, Ruby has been denied entry to several other ports, including those in Sweden, Denmark, and Lithuania, where authorities insisted the ship could only dock if it offloaded its explosive cargo first. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė confirmed that Ruby was not allowed to dock at Klaipėda, echoing concerns about the ship’s safety, according to local media.

The ship is currently anchored near Margate, just outside British waters, and awaiting permission to enter the Dover Strait. The UK’s HM Coastguard has issued a statement saying it is monitoring the vessel, although there is no immediate indication of danger. Despite this, the proximity of Ruby to the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery, a sunken World War II ship loaded with unexploded ordnance, has raised additional concerns.

Authorities in Malta, Ruby’s declared destination, have also stated that the ship will not be allowed to enter Maltese waters unless it first empties its cargo. “The MV Ruby will only be allowed to enter Malta if it unloads its cargo. Otherwise, it will be barred from Maltese territorial waters,” a spokesperson for the Maltese transport ministry told local media.

While ammonium nitrate is stable during transport, it can become dangerous if exposed to specific triggers. Dan Kaszeta, a chemical weapons defence expert, tells The Times: “It needs a lot of odd circumstances to be a hazard, like being stored poorly in Beirut with a bunch of fireworks.”