No safety fears about damaged ship, says minister

A damaged ship carrying potentially explosive fertiliser poses no danger, a transport minister has told the House of Lords.

Lord Hendy said 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were being safely transferred from the MV Ruby to another ship at Great Yarmouth in Norfolk.

He was responding to a question from another member of the Lords who referred to an explosion in Lebanon in 2020 that involved fertiliser.

"The explosion in Beirut occurred because of the incorrect storage of ammonium nitrate over a long period, and it was being stored in a shed alongside fireworks that caught fire," he said.

The Maltese-registered ship had previously been anchored about 11 miles (17km) off the coast of Margate in Kent awaiting repairs to its hull and propeller, which were damaged in bad weather in September.

Lord Hendy said the port had plenty of experience handling such cargoes.

"I am told this is a normal operational activity in Great Yarmouth, and the port says this is not an exceptional activity," he said.

The port had previously told the BBC that it adhered to all of the UK's safety regulations as well as international maritime standards.

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