Fears grow over 'floating timebomb' as Russian ship full of explosives docks in Yarmouth

Residents living in a UK seaside town have shared their fears after a Russian ship docked with 20,000 tonnes of suspected explosives on-board.

Locals in Great Yarmouth have been left gobsmacked by the "concerning news" following the arrival of the MV Ruby which has already been turned away from Norway and Lithuania. Beachgoers have dubbed the a "floating timebomb" because it is carrying fertiliser, known as ammonium nitrate, which could be lethal in some circumstances.

Mia Atkinson, 28, who lives nearby, said the contains a "ridiculous amount" of chemicals and believes tourists and locals shouldn't have to be "exposed" to it. The mum, who was on the beach next to the town’s port with her children Riley, 10, and Lexi-May, 9, said: “This ship is a little bit concerning. I walk up and down here every day.

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"I understand that this is an industrial area and some places use chemicals, but this is a ridiculous amount. There are loads of holidaymakers on the beach here when the is nice and they should not be exposed to this.” The MV is holding seven times more ammonium nitrate than the 2,750 tonnes of the fertiliser which exploded in Lebanon, killing 218 people during the blast in 2020.

The major explosion, which took place at the Port of Beirut, was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. The horrific incident is said to have happened because the fertiliser was not properly stored. But the operators of Great Yarmouth port insisted today that the ship had been berthed under “the strictest safety conditions”. The Maltese-registered MV Ruby left the port of Kandalaksha with its cargo in late August, but then ran aground and damaged its propellor, rudder and hull. The ship called at the Norwegian port of Tromso for repairs in early September, but was forced to leave after media speculation over risks posed by her cargo.

Residents of Tromso had become increasingly concerned as the was anchored near a university campus, a hospital, and hundreds of homes. The MV Ruby was also turned away from a repair yard in Lithuania, and ultimately wound up waiting at anchor in the English Channel.

While in Great Yarmouth, she will have her cargo transferred to another so she is able to be repaired in an unspecified dry dock. The second ship will then take the cargo to its final destination which is thought to be in Africa. The MV Ruby has been able to dock in Great Yarmouth without breaking sanctions against over the war because she is not Russian-owned. Ammonium nitrate is also not believed to be subject to sanctions.

But locals in Great Yarmouth said they were fearful about ship which has brought back memories about the detonation of a 250kg World War Two bomb in the town. Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes after the unexploded bomb was unearthed during building work for a new bridge in February last year. The bomb dramatically blew up three days later during an attempt to disarm it, creating a giant blast which shook homes and was heard up to ten miles away.

Health worker Shari Wharton, 61, said: “It’s not good dumping all this rubbish on Great Yarmouth. I would rather it wasn’t here. My house was rocked when we had the big bomb go off a couple of months after I moved here two-years-ago. Now we have got to put up with this which nobody else wants.” Jackie Shales, 76, of nearby Lowestoft who was beachcombing on Great Yarmouth beach with her husband Keith, 78, added: “It is a bit worrying. It sounds like a floating timebomb which could go off at anytime. It is all very well saying the ship is safe, but how come other countries have turned it away? We seem to accept all sorts of things that nobody else wants. But it won’t put me off from coming here. I am too old to care.”

A spokesperson for Serenity Management which manages MV Ruby said it had reached an agreement with Peel Ports Group to accept the ship in Great Yarmouth “to complete a transhipment of the vessel’s cargo of ammonium nitrate”. The firm added: “The vessel’s cargo poses no risk to the surrounding area in its present state. The owners and managers of the Ruby would like to take this opportunity to thank the UK authorities for their support throughout the vessel's stay in UK territorial waters, while we express gratitude to Peel Ports Group for accommodating our request to complete a transhipment at Great Yarmouth.”

Sir Roger Gale, the MP for Herne Bay and Sandwich, said that the cargo was safe following his meeting with Shipping Minister Mike Kane earlier this month. Richard Goffin, the Director for the Port of Great Yarmouth said it was welcoming MV Ruby “in order to fulfil our obligations as Statutory Harbour Authority and assist the vessel with transhipment of its cargo.” He added in a statement: “Aligned to the UK Government and The Department for Transport’s approval of the MV Ruby entering UK waters, Peel Ports Group will take the responsibility of accommodating the vessel in a suitable berth under the strictest of safety measures.

“The of Great Yarmouth has the capability to handle hazardous materials and the discharge and transhipment of such materials and cargo is common practice across our port group. Our team is well-versed in implementing rigorous safety protocols and we strictly adhere to all UK safety regulations and international maritime standards. We take our responsibilities as Statutory Harbour Authority incredibly seriously and work closely with the relevant regulatory bodies to maintain full compliance. Our role is to ensure that the MV Ruby is able to safely discharge and continue with its onward journey.”

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said it was aware of the and had been working with partners in recent days to understand any risk. A spokesperson added: “We continue to work closely with the port authority.” The Health and Safety Executive said it had offered advice to the port and was “providing technical support to other government departments in relation to their regulatory roles”.