The Ruby, a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier, has been at the center of safety concerns since September 2024, after being stranded near the Dover Strait with 20,000 tonnes of volatile ammonium nitrate on board. The ship's hazardous cargo poses significant risks to health, safety, and the environment, sparking fears of a catastrophic event. The Ruby's ordeal began after sustaining storm damage, prompting European ports, including Lithuania, to turn it away due to the dangerous nature of its cargo. British coastguards eventually deemed the ship seaworthy, allowing it to dock at Great Yarmouth on October 28. However, the Ruby's situation eerily echoes the devastating 2020 Beirut blast, which was triggered by the detonation of approximately 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in a port warehouse. The explosion killed over 200 people, injured thousands, and displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes.
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