Damaged cargo ship towed from city harbour

Ruby, a cargo ship sailing under the flag of Malta, anchored at Tromsø port in Norway after seeking an emergency port to escape storms and bad weather on Monday, August 26, after also being damaged on its journey. On Tuesday September 2, it was decided that the cargo ship was not wanted at Tromsø port, and the police worked to have it removed.

The vessel had sustained damage on its journey from its last port call in Kandalaksha in Russia, and was in need for repair. Based on advice from the Tromsø fire department that the ship should not be repaired in Tromsø, the ship was towed to Karlsøy municipality. The reason it was not wanted in the port of Tromsø was because of its cargo, 20.000 tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical substance that can become explosive under certain conditions known for many explosions in the past.

Status this morning, Friday September 6, was that the flag state was working on a plan to let the vessel continue its journey without work being carried out on site, with search and rescue on standby.