The vessel, Ruby, a 37,000 dwt open hatch carrier, was set to pass through Denmark’s Great Belt strait under tow this weekend, with a pilot onboard to assist with navigation. However, the ship is currently stranded in Norwegian waters.
Ruby’s intended destination is Lithuania, but Lithuanian authorities have refused entry unless the cargo is offloaded prior to arrival. The ship initially departed from Kandalaksha, Russia, en route to Las Palmas, Canary Islands, but ran aground, causing damage to its propeller, hull, and rudder. After anchoring in Tromsø, Norway, it was turned away due to safety concerns.
According to vessel tracking data from MarineTraffic, the Malta-flagged ship remains stationary in Norwegian waters. Danish maritime authorities report that the shipowner is still searching for a port where the cargo can be safely unloaded. Sweden is also closely monitoring the situation, with the country’s coast guard confirming the vessel is awaiting further instructions.
Ruby, built in 2012 and managed by UAE-based Serenity Ship Management, is carrying seven times the quantity of ammonium nitrate involved in the 2020 explosion at the port of Beirut, which killed over 200 people.
Although transporting ammonium nitrate is routine in Northern Europe, Swedish authorities emphasize that the ship's technical issues and the high-traffic sea routes warrant close attention.
They added that the risk of explosion remains low at this time, as ammonium nitrate is not explosive by itself but can become dangerous under specific conditions.