EU Blocks Damaged Russian Ship Carrying Dangerous Cargo Over Safety Concerns, Report Says
Department of Security and Military Research and Studies 07-10-2024
Earlier, Russia’s Uralchem Group, one of the world’s leading producers of mineral fertilizers, delivered fertilizers to Malawi, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria. Overall, the company plans to deliver a total of 300,000 tonnes.
The MV Ruby, a ship damaged while transporting 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate (fertilizer) from Russia to Africa, is being denied entry into EU and British ports due to fears of a potential explosion, reported the New York Times.
The ship, owned by Maltese company Ruby Enterprise, suffered damage en route and was initially inspected in Norway, where authorities found no immediate threat.
However, ports across Northern Europe have refused to accept the vessel for repairs, citing concerns about the ammonium nitrate on board, a substance involved in the 2020 Beirut explosion that claimed the lives of at least 280 people.
According to the report, the situation highlights the mistrust and suspicion faced by Russian-linked vessels since the start of the Russian special military operation.
While the MV Ruby was unable to dock in European ports to repair damage, the reason “can only be political,” Malick Niang, a member of the board of directors of the West African Fertilizer Association, told Sputnik Africa.
“We are sanctioning Moscow with a ricochet in Africa, where we know there is good cooperation with Russia. We can no longer import good quality fertilizers at prices, at competitive prices. Europe can decide to sanction Russia, but why make these sanctions affect relations between Africa and Russia?” he said.
The Europeans are also practicing “double standards” by continuing to import Russian fertilizers themselves, the official noted.
“It is hypocritical to keep saying that we are sanctioning energy, fertilizers, etc. while importing urea or NPK [fertilizers] behind the scenes. And we do not want them to be imported,” he emphasized.
