Ruby diverts course amid concerns over hazardous cargo in Danish waters

The cargo ship Ruby, carrying a hazardous Russian load, was expected to pass through Danish waters this weekend. However, the ship has been largely stationary in Norwegian waters, as tracked by MarineTraffic. It appears the ship’s plans may have changed.

On Friday evening, DanPilot, the Danish pilotage authority, announced that a pilot would board the ship on Saturday evening. However, a pilot booking is no longer in place, according to DanPilot. The latest information indicates that the Ruby remains in Norwegian waters.

A maritime pilot is a navigator who advises a ship’s captain in unfamiliar waters. According to the Danish Maritime Authority, both a pilot and tugboat assistance are required for the Ruby to transit Danish waters due to its dangerous cargo. The ship holds 20,000 tons of explosive ammonium nitrate, with reported damage to its rudder and hull. This cargo is seven times that which caused the catastrophic explosion in Beirut in 2020, resulting in at least 207 fatalities.

The Malta-flagged ship was previously denied entry by Norwegian authorities. After running aground on August 22, the Ruby continued its voyage around northern Norway to dock in Tromsø. On September 2, it was expelled from the Tromsø harbor due to concerns about its hazardous cargo.

Ruby’s original plan involved navigating through the Great Belt towards Lithuania for repairs, but the Lithuanian government has refused to accept the ship until its explosive cargo is removed. Swedish authorities have also denied the ship entry into ports in Gothenburg and Uddevalla, neighboring populated areas.

The Danish Maritime Authority has indicated it is monitoring the situation, with experts warning about the risks posed by Russia’s “shadow fleet” since the outbreak of the Ukraine war. A senior analyst described Ruby’s movements as “suspicious,” suggesting these actions could be part of a hybrid war strategy by Russia to test responses from Nordic countries.