By Miriam Kuepper and Shannon Mcguigan Published: 14:10 EDT, 6 October 2024 | Updated: 14:59 EDT, 6 October 2024

A Russian cargo ship dubbed the ‘floating bomb’ is still stuck off Kent’s coast amid fears that it is too lethal to sail through the Channel.The ship, nicknamed the Ruby, is carrying seven times the amount of explosives that devastated Beirut in 2020 and is currently anchored off Margate, according to Marine Traffic, a global ship tracking website.It was first spotted near Kent at the end of September after it had to depart from the Norwegian port of Tromso on September 4 due to concerns over its cargo, just three days after it docked there to seek shelter from a storm.The Malta-flagged cargo ship had been stocked with explosive cargo from a port in Kandalaksha in northern Russia on August 22, before making its way to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. It is understood that the Ruby is loaded with 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which is seven times more than the 2,750 tonnes which exploded in the Port of Beirut in Lebanon, killing 218 people, in 2020.  A Russian cargo ship (pictured)  loaded with explosives was spotted off the coast of Kent  Dubbed ‘the floating bomb’, the vessel also known at the Ruby was recorded by VesselFinder as being near MargateThe Ruby’s propeller, hull, and rudder had been damaged, but following several days authorities insisted the ship leave as fears grew among locals, Newsweek reports.Residents became increasingly concerned as the ship was anchored near a university campus, a hospital, as well as hundreds of homes. According to Newsweek, authorities did not outright say the ship would erupt however they did say it was ‘not desirable’ for the vessel to be so close to the Norwegian city.According to Marine Traffic, the Ruby left Norway and made its way towards the country’s north -near the municipality of Andoy.The decision was made to pump 37.5 million kroner into the Andoya Air Station, which was constructed in 1951, following a NATO meeting. The money was to be used for defending the air base which will eventually be used for the use of long-range drones to monitor the seas. In May, the Norwegian Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said: ‘Andøya plays an important role in national security, allied defence and technological development.’The growing military-strategic significance of the base for Norway and NATO requires that we continue manned guarding.’The NATO member state opted to invest more in the base following increasing tensions between the diplomatic mission and Russia regarding the conflict in Ukraine, which has now entered its third year. Russia had previously accused NATO of involving itself in the conflict by supplying Ukraine with weapons and military aid. Russian officials have often suggested they would possibly attack members of NATO as retaliation for helping Ukraine. (Pictured: The devastation in Lebanon in 2020) The Ruby has seven times more of ammonium nitrate than found in this disaster, which killed 218 peopleIngrida Simonyte, the Prime Minister of Lithuania stated on September 12 that the Ruby would not be allowed to dock at Klaipeda for repairs, according to local media.It is understood that the Ruby is securely anchored after successfully completing refuelling at sea at 9.15pm on September 28. It is not clear why the ship is still anchored off Kent, since it is said to have appropriate safety certificates approved by Malta and is understood to be able to make its own way to its destination. HM Coastguard is in regular contact with the vessel and monitoring its progress. 

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Russian ‘floating bomb’ ship carrying seven times the amount of explosives that devastated Beirut in 2020 is STILL stuck off Kent’s coast amid fears it’s too lethal to sail through the Channel