Port of Great Yarmouth welcomes damaged bulk carrier Ruby

News

The Port of Great Yarmouth will welcome the damaged bulk carrier Ruby on 28 October for the transhipment of 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate.

Port of Great Yarmouth welcomes damaged bulk carrier Ruby
Port of Great Yarmouth / Archive © Shutterstock

The Port of Great Yarmouth will safely welcome the bulk carrier Ruby on 28 October to fulfil its obligations as a Statutory Harbour Authority and assist the vessel with the transhipment of its cargo.

The vessel, damaged during a northern storm and anchored off the UK coast for over a month, had been waiting while its Malta-based owners and Dubai-based managers sought a port for unloading and repair. Peel Ports Group has now agreed to allow the 37,039 dwt vessel to enter Great Yarmouth to transship 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate.

The Ruby loaded the cargo in Kandalaksha, Russia, but was damaged after grounding in a storm shortly after departing on 22 August. Following temporary repairs in Tromsø, Norway, the vessel was instructed to leave and eventually anchored in UK waters in late September.

“Aligned with the UK Government and the Department for Transport’s approval of the MV Ruby entering UK waters, Peel Ports Group will take responsibility for accommodating the vessel in a suitable berth under the strictest safety measures,” said Richard Goffin, Port Director for the Port of Great Yarmouth.

The Port of Great Yarmouth is equipped to handle hazardous materials, and the discharge and transhipment of such cargo is common practice across the group’s facilities.

“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 a Statutory Harbour Authority incredibly seriously, working closely with the relevant regulatory bodies to maintain full compliance. Our role is to ensure that the MV Ruby can safely discharge and continue on its onward journey,” Goffin concluded.