Ship with explosive cargo is 'not a threat' - MP

The 12-year-old bulker is anchored off the Kent coast awaiting repairs to her hull and propeller

A damaged cargo ship moored off the Kent coast with thousands of tonnes of potentially explosive fertiliser on board is “safe”, according to a local MP.

The MV Ruby is currently about 11 miles (17km) off Margate awaiting repairs after sustaining damage to its hull and propeller last month due to bad weather.

Sir Roger Gale, the MP for Herne Bay and Sandwich, met with Shipping Minister Mike Kane due to "ongoing concerns" about the presence of the vessel to coastal communities.

"I do not believe my constituents face any threat to their security as a result of the presence of this vessel," Sir Roger said.

He said the cargo of 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate would need to be unloaded before the ship could dock, possibly in either in the UK or Republic of Ireland, for repairs to then take place.

"I am advised that the cargo, originally destined for Africa, of class two ammonium nitrate is safe," said Sir Roger, in a statement issued on X (formerly Twitter).

Sir Roger Gale said he had received reassurances that the vessel was "not a threat"

The Maltese-registered vessel was initially anchored in open waters awaiting passage through the English Channel.

It was moved inshore due to inclement weather conditions in the North Sea, he added.

Damage sustained to the ship had not rendered it unseaworthy but "repair negotiations are ongoing to unload the cargo ahead of it being repaired", Sir Roger said.

He said his meeting with the minister had also included officials from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The MV Ruby is carrying more than seven times the amount of the explosive involved in the Beirut blast in 2020.