Badly damaged Russian ship carrying 'explosive' cargo docks at UK port

Hazardous fertiliser 'poses no risk'

- Mark Reynolds

A HUGE cargo ship carrying 20,000 tons of potentially explosive ammonium nitrate was given permission to dock at a UK port yesterday to undergo emergency repairs.

The MV Ruby set off from north Russia in July, destined for the Canary Islands. But in recent weeks it had to anchor 11 miles off the coast of Margate, Kent, to await repairs to its hull and propeller, which were damaged in bad weather last month.

After being allowed to dock in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, the vessel's management company said the load posed "no risk to the surrounding area in its present state".

Safety