OFT-JILTED ammonium nitrate carrier Ruby (IMO: 9626390) has found a UK port to transfer its cargo following a media storm and months of diplomatic limbo.

A spokesman for Malta-based owner Ruby Enterprise told Lloyd’s List the ship would shift the fertiliser to another vessel for delivery to several ports in Africa, adding he would give more details at the weekend.

Northern European countries refused the ship entry after widespread media coverage stoked baseless fears that its 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate could explode near a city.

Malta-flagged, 2012-built, 37,039 dwt Ruby has since spent a month in the English Channel off Kent while its owner, lawyers, insurers and the UK authorities worked out how to find it a port without stoking more bad press.

Norwegian inspectors had earlier cleared the ship to travel with a tug escort to seek repairs after it grounded off Russia on August 22, damaging its hull, rudder and propeller.

Press coverage in the UK and Europe drew parallels to the 2020 Beirut port blast, caused by badly stored ammonium nitrate, but the cargo was undamaged. Ammonium nitrate will not detonate without a direct explosive charge or a strong fire, Lloyd’s List has reported.

Ruby’s signalled destination of Malta, its flag state, was meant as a back-up in case the UK would not take the ship.