Is MV Ruby Anchored Off England Another Beirut Waiting to Happen? ... NO!

[@wgowshipping]

🚨MV Ruby just shifted anchorage closer to shore and inside the territorial waters of England. The weather is probably the factor with 20+ knot winds and 6-foot swells. It moved in closer for calmer water. It is now 10 nautical miles NE of Margate. The weather is scheduled to continue until Wed and then clear.🚨 CORRECTION: The ship off London is the SS Richard Montgomery vice Robert Montgomery.

[@fox280-c4p]

Is there any danger to the uk

[@QALibrary]

@@wgowshipping maybe it worth making a video about that ship - work should have started to take stress off the wreck last/this year but it was never stated - they were going to remove the rigging/poles/cranes from the wreck

[@fox280-c4p]

Do u have to go through London to get to the Dover straight

[@janwhite6038]

Not as bad as it was first made out to be by The Thames Newspaper, Times Radio, thank goodness. Thx Sam

[@PaulDenison-r7r]

@@fox280-c4p only if it goes bang

[@markmaki4460]

I like the Freudian slip - "ammunition nitrate" lol

[@wgowshipping]

Oops

[@elizabethbottroff1218]

I caught that as well.😂

[@jacky445]

If it go boom it may as well be ammunition nitrate.🤣

[@dennisyoung4631]

“Amatol without (???) the Tee-nee-tee…” It might be still that Russia still uses Amatol in their munitions….

[@chrisedwards2539]

Yeah, I bet the Ukrainians could find a use for all that ammonium nitrate

[@Lemonjellow]

If I lived in England, specifically near the Thames Estuary. The ship I'd worry about most is the SS Richard Montgomery and it's cargo of 1500 tons of TNT from WWII.

[@AlexEvans-f6p]

And times radio was reporting that this ship with Russian connections, laden with ammonium nitrate, was just 3 miles away from the Montgomery. In their words, the explosion in Beirut devastated an area within a radius of 6 miles. They also said the ship in question is carrying 10 x more fertiliser than what was involved in the Beirut explosion. So the concern was, and the clear implication of the reporting was, that the "Russian" ship, if it exploded, could trigger the Montgomery to go off also. It would seem that if the ship is actually 30 or so miles away as this KZbin video has reported, then it is not a concern. EDIT: I checked the location of the Ruby and it's currently at anchor 14 Miles from Margate and 34 miles from the Montgomery.

[@hellsHeRo-r4i2y]

Ok let me clear this for u all... The a.nitrate is only dangerous with explosive risk if it's been sitting in the store at heat like Beirut'swarehouse for years ... This would not blow..like that. . mass hysteria ....but If it sinks ...massive chaos and destruction to aquatic and seal life sea lanes shipping lanes would shut down and we would see deviation on beaches sea for.deacdes or worse it can't be cleaned up .. that's more dangerous ... Exploding isn't really a big issue unless it's got mass amount of explosive seting it off a flare lighter or fire as such won't do it .Ur talking . C4 stuff or stronger .

[@petergerdes1094]

@@hellsHeRo-r4i2yThe concern was delibrate detonation as terrorism but I agree it's unlikely.

[@hellsHeRo-r4i2y]

@@petergerdes1094 that i could see they have the resource for.that much explosive to make it worse ...

[@cujimmy1366]

Imagine a tidal wave hitting Dungeness or Bradwell power station.

[@FlyingScot911]

500 dead? The 1917 Halifax harbor explosion was a 3 kiloton explosion that killed about 1,700 and injured over 9,000. A roiling cloud of hot gas rose high above the blast. Chunks and shards of the ship fell across an eight-kilometre range. Vaporized fuel and chemicals from the explosion fell as rain, coating people and wreckage with an oily film. Richmond and the Mi’kmaw community of Turtle Grove were struck by the full force of the blast. More than 1700 people were killed by the explosion and its after-effects. At least 9000 were injured and many more were made homeless. The Explosion immediately disrupted communications linking North America, Nova Scotia, and the world overseas. Roadways, telegraph and telephone lines, submarine cables were disrupted by the blast. Rail links to the piers, and many of the piers themselves, were destroyed. Mont-Blanc’s main cargo was bulk high explosives. When barrels of petrochemical on deck triggered the blast, the ship was transformed into a three-kiloton bomb in a busy modern port.

[@brandino97yyc]

We Canucks get glossed over a lot haha

[@garyfrancis6193]

Is that better?

[@julieannepatterson3295]

Yes the Halifx explosion was enormous. Lets take a moment to consider building materials and structures of the period and the less resiliant containment of hardous chemicals. we learn cheers

[@pras12100]

I agree with everything except "killed about 1,700". Wikipedia says "at least 1782". As far as I know the official total was 1,950 and this is widely believed to be an under-estimate. For instance, it does not account for the indigenous people living along the banks of the Halifax Sound who would have likely drowned in the tsunami caused by the explosion. Some people were turned to ash in the fires and, if no-one reported them missing, they would not be counted. The actual death toll is much more likely to be well over 2,000.

[@leemorgan8725]

A ww2 ammo ship blew up in Mumbai harbour the shockwave sank loads of other vessels but killed over 600, it was kept quiet for security reasons.

[@TheMaintopman]

Regardless of the type of cargo on board, what I don't understand is even with the supposed damage to the rudder and propeller the vessel managed to sail from the grounding location as far as the English Channel. Why has she anchored there close to a busy shipping route with strong tidal currents and no shelter. The Master must have received instructions from the owners or managers. I wonder what they are waiting for ?

[@stuartcollett3252]

If she ran aground up near Russia why didn't she turn around and go back to Russia?

[@alltat]

They probably didn't want a damaged ship full of explosive cargo either.

[@rogerstone3068]

He said in the video, the trouble didn't start to show until part-way along the journey, while they were rounding the northern edge of Norway.

[@Klemheist-vf1hx]

Probably because there is no money in turning back.

[@BradHartliep-kn9ud]

@@rogerstone3068 - it was STILL a hell of a lot closer than Britain -- if they have steerage enough to get to Tormso - from where the grounding occurred - then they ALSO have steerage enough to get back to either Murmansk or Kandalashka .. it makes ZERO sense that they sailed ALL THE WAY Down the Norwegian Coast, when they were CLEARLY CLOSER TO MURMANSK [Russia], Arkangel [Russia] and Kandalashka [also Russia] -- they ALSO tried to get clearance to sail to Lithuania - which is LITERALLY RIGHT NEXT DOOR to Kaliningrad -- which is ALSO PART OF RUSSIA! WHY are they NOT sailing to a RUSSIAN PORT?? --

[@anthonymiles8377]

@@BradHartliep-kn9ud Because the last place you want to be with a damaged vessel is Russia I'd imagine.

[@d.e.7210]

Excellent, level-headed, analysis. Thank you Sal! 👍

[@twoeggcups]

Still doesn't explain the bizarre track of the ship, and why it's lying at anchor now instead of proceeding to the Med

[@CricketsBay]

Or why it didn't just go back to port in Russia, since the running aground supposedly happened not long after it left the Russian port with this load of ammonium nitrate.

[@twoeggcups]

@@CricketsBay Exactly. The whole thing is nonsensical.

[@kaiying74]

I've been angry with the way our (I'm in the UK) media has covered this. They are low-effort, lazy, chumps. It's been sensationalised nonsense, infuriating.

[@electrikhan7190]

What is the media? Everyone is tuned in to their own stations. Fear mongers crying wolf, distracting us, while it already feasts on the flock. Back to word of mouth but with upvotes and subscribes. I trust this guy because it all adds up with everything else I know, he asks proper questions and knows proper protocol for fuck ups and failures. Which means he knows shit which is more than I can say for half the media, or at least the half they try to show me.

[@danam0228]

There's no such thing as journalistic integrity anymore due to the rise of social media

[@aNf0m0f0]

Same as the British colonies like australia, we are banning the truth so only lies are allowed

[@davidgoodnow269]

That's what happens any time you have personal knowledge of anything presented in the news!

[@piccalillipit9211]

Times Radio London just blatantly lied about it and made it out to be a deliberate Russian operation to wipe out London

[@hossenfeffer8383]

Thank you Sal you are an international treasure. I have been following Maritime Executive’s postings. I sincerely hope your post gets vast distribution to underline that transport of dangerous goods by sea is business as usual, and there are rational everyday mitigations to address the risks of bulk ammonium nitrate. Maritime Executive speaks to the possible offloading of the cargo onto smaller vessels so that Ruby can safely enter dry dock for repairs. Your illustration of the blast potential was particularly helpful. Needless to say, of equal or greater concern is the potential environmental damage should the vessel go down, and the disruption to shipping in such a case where shipping lanes will have to shift to prevent further contamination of surrounding waters by the action of maritime traffic. Thank you for bringing the temperature down on this one 🇨🇦

[@WhiteWolf65]

Agreed. I say send an inspection team to check the damage. Then look to offloading the ammonium nitrate to one or more other vessels (breaking up the load would make any bang smaller) Then the ship could go wherever for repairs w/o danger from the bloody cargo!

[@hossenfeffer8383]

As I understand it Ruby is now in UK waters so presumably UK marine safety and security inspectors now have jurisdiction. Ruby’s crew needs help.

[@tinacatharinaeden2711]

​@@WhiteWolf65I was thinking along those lines as well. Since the ship has it's own cranes that might be the best solution. Ofcourse they would have to wait until the weather clears up.

[@irongron]

You took the request right out of my mind Sal. Much appreciated. You pre-empted most of us with this very timely presentation!

[@hansulrichruediger7350]

Good Morning Sal and a great big 'Thank You' ! Whenever I peruse your reports on 'shipping' I come away much better informed and a whole lot smarter about your subject matter. Your channel is one of the best resources on KZbin. You contribute mightily to this 82 year old retired US Navy Sea Bee's enjoyment of a happy retirement in Thailand. I spent nineteen of my Navy years on and around Bahrain and the Middle East in general. The surrounding water ways, such as the Suez Canal, the Hormuz Strait and the Red Sea, more often than not were a big part of our local observations and discussions on the geo--political and military aspects of our 5th Fleet AOR. Your excellent analyzes of world wide shipping events enable me to better understand current concerns and developing stories.

[@FrankBarnwell-xi8my]

In Texas City, 15 miles away. Used to be Anchor Park.

[@tomjensen618]

excellent! Thanks for the completely sane account of matters. No need to get all worked up about this>

[@elizabethbottroff1218]

LNG... I was at an academy in the late '80s into the '90s. I remember people talking about the extra rules that LNG carriers had to follow. Even in the early days of tracing and monitoring vessels, those LNG tankers had to be tracked live by satellites. One day, one of the blips on the screen disappeared. When it came time to search for jobs, I was fortunate to find work on other types of vessels. But I've always thought of that crew that disappeared from existence in seconds. MV Ruby has brought awareness to new laymen about hazardous cargo. But they ignore the thousands of trains that run past their doorsteps daily. I have turned down residence opportunities in great accommodations when I learned how close they were to railyards and junctions. The potential for various cargos to interact in a disaster is not something that I take lightly. In all transportation, we have designed many safety features and procedures to keep us safe. But I'll keep that extra buffer of mileage and terrain for when systems fail.

[@scottcates]

Worker safety and public safety takes a back seat to money. LNG is a good example of how little information is known about it's transport.

[@carolinecleaveley-q1r]

Hi sal. In Sharpness uk we have regular deliveries of Ammonium nitrate for uk farming industry. Nothing has exploded in living memory. caroline in uk.

[@rogerstone3068]

Do you mean Sheerness?

[@davecooper3238]

@@rogerstone3068Sharpness has a tidal dock.

[@carolinecleaveley-q1r]

no Sharpness on the Severn estuary in Gloucestershire in uk. caroline in uk

[@snafufubar]

What if it was set off on purpose.

[@catalickconverta6823]

​@@snafufubar you dont how to😂

[@ACF6180T]

Sal I would never would ? You on your knowledge on anything to do with shipping. I have learned so much from you since the incident with the Dali, & the Francis Scott Key bridge. Thank You for keeping us informed on what is going on with shipping.

[@jbtonline]

Thanks Sal for clearing up the BS British news was passing out.. Jon from UK..

[@termonostruman]

IF they hide it its because it serious...

[@BeardLAD]

Same, hence why I asked Sal in comments - British Media = western media = propaganda… …it really is a case of seeing what they don’t report or how they misreport. Classic example of propaganda in British press reporting = report initial ‘newsworthy’ incidents, if those incidents turn out to have involved ‘privilege’ or been the result of ‘perversity’, they are not followed up. Examples: Woman who drove a land rover into the girls school in Wimbledon killing & injuring children. The guy who went nuts with the samurai sword, slicing off a constable’s arm and IIRC killing a family: why can’t the public be informed about that?! Because the truth is not in the interests of those in power, the power to clearly shutdown the press reporting on public interest cases THE PRESS WOULD BENEFIT FROM REPORTING. Makes sense in one way only.

[@rogerstone3068]

Margate is my home town, and I now live about 10 miles further inland, so I'm very grateful for this calm, reliable assessment of the extent of the hazard.

[@CamRHYM3S]

Credit to Dr. Alex Wellerstein for the Nuke Map

[@WhiteWolf65]

Sadly, it does ~nothing~ to illustrate the shockwave that would be transmitted through the WATER... and what it would do to the Montgomery laying in the silt of the estuary nearby.

[@dickiet]

@@WhiteWolf65 This was my thought too

[@TheStanford01]

You were quite correct about false information from reporters who donot know what they are talking about. Thank you for you clear report.

[@marclattoni1959]

It's good to rely on a knowledgeable person describing an issue in measured tones. Thanks!

[@neillconroy2183]

I served aboard ships based out of Halifax for a few years. Thanks for mentioning it! The explosion was still being discussed the last time I was there, about 25 years ago.

[@petergerdes1094]

The worries I saw about this were more about Russia playing games parking the ship repeatedly near strategic infrastructure to create anxiety or test the response not that they'd detonate it. Honestly, I found the theory pretty paranoid and unlikely but it was at least a less crazy theory.

[@mootpointjones8488]

Thanks for the level headed report and sound information. Here in the UK the tabloid media has said we're doomed!

[@christopherg2347]

Fun fact: Wikipedias list of "Largest accidental artificial non-nuclear explosions" is about 50% Amonium Nitrate.

[@99unclebob]

Wikipedia is also full of bullshit information, don't believe everything you read

[@trekmanone1]

Clarification for Wikipedia: The Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada 1917 explosion was, and still is, the largest non-nuclear explosion in history. Equivalent to 2.9 kilotons of TNT. Beirut was equivalent to 1.1 kilotons. The WW2 nuclear bombs on Japan were 20 kilotons. 20 tons is what the Ruby is carrying.... Sal, your kiloton simulator seemed off, way off. In Beirut, walls and buildings collapsed 5 km away, windows broke 10 km away. That was 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate (1.1 kiloton blast) This Ruby has 20 tons, 6.5x greater than Beirut's 2,750 tons. Hmmmm To me, in simple math, a Ruby explosion could collapse buildings ~30 km away (Beirut 5 km x 6.5) and break windows 65 km away. That's quite a significant bigger blast radius than your simulator stated. The blast wave would easily hit mainland UK from where it was currently anchored. It'd be felt in France too. Knowing the nitrate was separated into 5 separate containers of the ship was reassuring.

[@ros8737]

@@trekmanone1Railroad cars carry 70-110 tons Ruby is carrying 20,000 tonnes! it is the equivalent of 7,5 kilotons of TNT or half the Hiroshima bomb.

[@davidgoodnow269]

​​@@trekmanone1 Explosive force drops off at the cube of distance, and the structure of any confinement of the initial blast is crucial. So a blast is significantly weaker at even 1,000 meters than at ten meters, because the blast has to fill that hemispheric volume. Adding another zero, 10,000, makes that volume even greater. The solid wall of the pressure wave becomes increasingly diffuse. In the case of a ship hull, that v- or u-shape of the hull could and should also help direct a blast upward, instead of outward, aided by the incompressibility of water. Not to say the potential blast wouldn't be large and loud, and might cause a sudden surge of water like a tsunami, but it isn't likely to be anything like your estimate.

[@Ganiscol]

The reason being, its used in mass quantities and therefore stored and moved around in such quantities. In its pure form its not superfly TNT, but if you allow it to be set on fire, you got a slow cooking problem on your hands.

[@judyhawkins6584]

I'm glad to have a better understanding of this situation. I hope people with the power to help it get properly taken care of take notice.

[@stco2426]

Sound sense and reporting from you, Sal.

[@AkiSaarinen-c9m]

As a coatal resident living in the nearest population centre to this ship, thank you for your reasoned, expert opinion on the condition and potential hazards. There has been much hysteria in the uninformed UK press.

[@udo5479]

Thanks so much Sal Well explained.I was worried about the back and forth.

[@rockbutcher]

Thank you Sal for being the voice of reason in this one. As a retired mining guy who spent most of my career working with (and sometimes blending our own) ANFO, I've been fielding all kinds of questions about this incident and it's driving me up the wall. The MSM has got their tiny little, sharp pointy fingers into the very small percentage chance of an incident and are milking it for all it's worth.

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

Without having a fuel, Ammonium nitrate isn't that much of a risk. Mining typically used AmFo(Ammonum nitrate(oxidizer) plus fuel oil_fuel)) as their explosive of choice, the same as was used in the Oklahoma City bombing in the 90's.

[@robg9236]

What about Beirut?

[@WOFFY-qc9te]

@@robg9236 That stored cargo had become unstable from humidity etc and the explosion although spectacular in its intensity was not as powerful without an accelerant like diesel which 'raven' speaks of. Texas was Anhydrous ammonia set off after a gas line rupture.

[@madpete6438]

Not quite true. As it decomposes into (from memory) Nitrous Oxide (Ooops) it is an exothermic reaction (creates HEAT) just like a runaway lithium battery it goes Boom. And this boat off england has 7x the quantity of the Beruit ship.

[@johntracy9398]

@@madpete6438 2 NH4NO3 > 2 N2(G) + O2(G) + 4 H2O(G)

[@nigelgarrett7970]

​@@madpete6438 Beirut was a warehouse not a ship.

[@mashdown3]

👍👍👍 It is sure nice to know a channel like Sal gives us and know he will not report without doing his due dilegence, and then it will be truthful, and not any kind of misleading. I have a read of Sal's personality well enough at this point to say it is so. Praise, recomendation for and appreciation of a good individual. Thank you for being you, Sal.👍👍👍

[@wgowshipping]

Thank you!

[@KYAg227]

what could go wrong?!

[@davidwhite3041]

I am always refreshed by your knowledge. You are an authority we look to at times of shipping concern. Carry on the good work.

[@themerchantofengland]

Hey Sal. Hope she doesn't blow, I'm working on the Gabbard Windfarm just North of her lol. Great upload as usual bud, thanks.

[@vorteco7692]

Thanks for keeping us up to date, as always! You are the best! I hope you have a great week!

[@stewarth1084]

The 2020 Beirut explosion had a blast radius that damaged homes up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) away. The explosion's effects were felt more than 100 miles away.

[@allanwellings8422]

Hearing a sane voice is a good way to start the week - thanks Sal.

[@dr.flywheel5493]

Ammonium Nitrate is does not become explosive at temperatures below about 260 degrees Celsius. This is why it is considered generally "safe" and therefore finds so much use in the mining industry, where it is being use as in "Teriary" form meaning, two more ingredients are needed to turn it readily into explosive. In such case the actual explosive compound is mixed with long-molecular-fuel (such as mazut) and a more sensitive initiator (like PETN) is used to start the blast. On the other hand the "Ruby" carries 20,000 tons of AN, while the famous 2020 Beirut explosion is reported to be composed of (only) about 2750 tons of AN. Of course, no one yet knows what else the Hisbullah was hiding around the bulk silos where the AN was stored. The real present danger is unlikely to come from the Russians, rather the true danger could come form non-state actors who can take advantage of the AN and turn it with relative ease into ANFO, using the Mazut taken from the ships fuel tanks.

[@nialllee2695]

Very informative of you but DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS ONBOARD are we to believe RUSSIA?? DELUSIONAL , I for one dont trust a word the BRITTISH GOVT says

[@johnh6515]

Thanks! Sal ! The expert on “WET NEWS” ! Wishing you the best !

[@ciaranflanagan-g9q]

I would be more concerned about the SS Montgomery than the Ruby.

[@whazzat8015]

Are they never going to resolve that one? Bari vs Halifax on the Thames

[@janwhite6038]

The SS Montgomery has been dangerous for years. It was partially unloaded years ago, but too hazardous to totally unload.

[@TheByard]

I always had a nasty feeling when I sailed past the wreck. Something my boat did while she was stationed on the Thames Estuary carrying out parachute mine patrols WWII. She moored at Queensburgh and Chatham.

[@QALibrary]

@@janwhite6038 they were going to remove the masts June 2023 and take some other measures to make the wreck more stable but that work was not started

[@WhiteWolf65]

Even if the Ruby goes up with a low-level explosion, the ship is in the sea, it is NOT a ground-surface explosion (that is where the Nuke-map is a big misnomer about effects - you should know that Sal!) The transmitted shockwave in the water column could be enough to set the Montgomery off. All those shells jostled, if just one goes off, sets off a few more, and that sets off the rest... Seriously NASTY.

[@MrZagorfly]

Even is not my subject I took deduction to become patron of this channel. The job of Sal and his easy readability deserve support!

[@wgowshipping]

Thank you!

[@KarlKarpfen]

Most of the heightend suspicion probably stems from the ports it tried to get to: It's known that Russia was preparing for war around Tromsø and Svalbard and has ambitions to conquer the Baltic States. Then, a freighter of questionable origin loads 20'000 tons of an explosive (which works as fertilizer, too) and gets into trouble, seeking help first in the Norwegian port closest to Europe's most likely next battlefield and after that, wants to pass through several places a bomb this size could make quite a positive impact for the Russian military just to go to the port over which quite a large share of resupply to the Baltic States would be done in case of a Russian invasion of the Baltic States. That's far beyond suspicious for many in Europe, especially after several attempts of civilian ships under Russian flag or entering or leaving russian ports have taken place to damage European dual use or military infrastructure.

[@gragor11]

"It's known that Russia was preparing for war around Tromsø and Svalbard and has ambitions to conquer the Baltic States. " LOL Is that what Stotenberg told you?

[@peredavi]

@@gragor11He’s off his meds,again.

[@peredavi]

Back away from the “alternate news” for a while.😂

[@annoyingbstard9407]

“Many in Europe.” That’s you and your fellow conspiritards.

[@rickymherbert2899]

Glad to see/hear your calm and informative take on this situation our side of the Pond. It has been unbelieveable the horror stories we have been subjected to from our MSM and other KZbinrs concerning the mv Ruby. I speak as someone who has safely carried many thousands of tonnes of AN frequently both ways thru the Straits of Dover too! Thank you.

[@jamesburns8247]

Have a look back to 1917 Mont-Blanc explosion near Halifax, Nova Scotia for another bad day.

[@bcluett1697]

He mentioned that incident near the end.

[@jamesburns8247]

@@bcluett1697 You're correct but I had already made the comment and I don;t know how to erase them but thanks anyway

[@curtbevington77]

Vessels caring HAZMAT... especially explosive cargos follow a set of rules the no other ship is required.... and rightly so. I've worked explosive issues with ships many times for the US Army and this guy is spot on.

[@shardsprivatechannel]

not beruit...Halifax. in 1917, Mont-Blanc Collided with SS Imo and detonated with a force of 2.9 kilotons. Beruit was 1.1.

[@AdrianWilkinson-e2p]

At last sensible commentary from someone who knows what they are talking about. Thank you so much. If only newsfeeds would use your content, people in Margate could sleep at night.

[@stephenrickstrew7237]

Serenity Shipping …Really ..? Cause I don’t got a peaceful easy feeling… ..

[@anderswahlgren9308]

Sounds a bit like "Outer Fringe Exports"..

[@Wick9876]

Maybe when the cargo is standing on the ground.

[@stephenrickstrew7237]

@@Wick9876 Touché …. But I Definitely agree with “The Dude “ about the Eagles

[@stephenrickstrew7237]

@@anderswahlgren9308 It’s a Boundary Layer Phenomenon…

[@bigwill4423]

Interesting vid. As anyone who has lived through "the troubles" in Northern Ireland will know that ammonium nitrate was the IRA's "explosive of choice" back then. Basically it's bags of fertilizer which is it's prime use but it's well known that it can also be used as an explosive should someone wish to do so. Obviously this ship has to be unloaded slowly and securely in order for essential repairs to be carried out but I think the legislation for carrying such cargoes needs to be tightened and the existing laws enforced more strictly to prevent issues like this happening in future. Great video as always Sal...keep em coming! 👍😎

[@SlipShodBob]

That is what confused me with the whole thing as their is more AN held at a couple of ports in the UK than is on the Ruby. You also need other other components to make it really go boom because it is an oxidizing agent not an explosive but then you have daft headlines everywhere here like Russian bomb ship anchored off of the coast. I do wonder if some of it is a remnant of the fertiliser bomb being the go to during the troubles

[@MartinHuyton-o6i]

'Other components' such as what... huge quantities of diesel? Yeah, that'll do it. Simply overlooked, granted.

[@SlipShodBob]

@@MartinHuyton-o6i actually not just diesel

[@paulmcgugan4994]

Thanks for this balanced and informative vlog. As an Englishman living in sw London, I am rightly concerned regarding this issue. Little information or informed opinion is being provided to us here, so your clearly balanced and informed vlog is of much comfort to us. Russias open threats against the uk will I think leave many of us sensitive to any activities by Russia that may threaten our safety.

[@bobwilliamson5993]

Another great report, thanks Sal!

[@MADHIKER777]

Sal, your insight into the fine details of this and other similar situations is invaluable!

[@MarjanKaykavoosi]

Thank You for everything that You do 💙💜🎯🎯

[@olli1068]

Thank you! The first few videos about the Ruby, which I saw on KZbin, wanted to tell me that the ships load of 20 thousand tons of amonium nitrate were equal to 20 thousand kilotons of TNT. At this point - after shortly asking myself why anybody on this earth would use TNT if chemical fertilzer was so much more explosive - I decided to wait for a more qualified video. Thank you for giving me what I was hoping for!

[@jaycooper2812]

I live in Alaska where we have a plant that used to make amonium nitrate. They would have a ship come in every 2 weeks to load it and leave. This plant made 15,000 tons of amonium nitrate a week. In the 30 years the plant was operational there wad never an issue. There is a natural gas liquification plant right next door and a major oil refinery a half mile away.

[@MartinHuyton-o6i]

And your point is? Times have changed. The west is at war with Russia now. The cargo is Russian and was loaded by Russians. Strange the Ruby took such and indirect route beginning 4-5 weeks ago and just happened to need to drop anchor in the Thames estuary, where it'll reside for the foreseeable future. Even in peacetime, this should be highly suspicious.

[@amydamon2323]

It is wonderful that a person with your background, experience and knowledge is making videos to give us the facts and debunk the wild nonfactual media headlines and the crazy posts and tweets we see everywhere. Thank you! I'm a chemist and I would have no problem having the vessel being in a port near me to offload its cargo. As you say this happens safely hundreds of times a year all over the world. But if a fire starts on board or there is seawater ingress and the cargo ages and begins to decompose that would be a different story. Unloading the cargo now is important. Then inspecting the cargo, storing it properly (not like in Beirut) until the vessel is repaired and can be reloaded and sail away must be done before any adverse conditions occur. Sending it from port to port is asking for eventual disaster. As the Chinese proverb says, "A small hole not mended in time will become a big hole much more difficult to mend".

[@davepfizer]

I have been watching it on AIS and its moved over night and is now, from what I can tell, about three miles from the London array, a large wind turbine array area. Quite why you would move it there I don't know. Seems a bit of a suspect location to put it. It has a support vessel, The Kamarina, is very close at present.

[@petergaskin1811]

Look for any sign that the crew is being taken off.

[@IPC0101]

Thanks for a very clear explanation of the Ruby situation, living not to far from there I was concerned.

[@jfinchPC12]

My family is from Halifax. The only reason that I am here today is because my great grandfather went to sea at 12 years old and was not there when the disaster took place taking out the entire town.

[@WhiskyCanuck]

Halifax was exactly my first thought when I heard about this ship.

[@PhilLesh69]

If he went to sea when he was twelve how were you born? We're you born at sea?

[@PhilLesh69]

Oh I get it now. The reason you mentioned the age that he went to sea because if he was fifteen when he went to sea you wouldn't be here today.

[@jfinchPC12]

@@PhilLesh69 He went to sea and only returned to visit once in a while.

[@FrederickRH1]

Well presented Sal. This is why we listen to providers like you, "just the facts" without the garbage.

[@wcgcapone]

Serenity now!

[@victorgrech1136]

lol

[@777Castle]

Thank you for your clear and concise explanation. There has been so much uninformed media speculation about the danger posed by this vessel. Obviously the Russian/Putin factor has been the cause of much of this misinformation. People have reason to be concerned in the current political climate, and your professional unbiased opinion is much appreciated. Keep up your good reporting.

[@robertmoss1971]

Thanks for putting this media story into perspective. You mentioned you had worked with supply ships at Dieago Garcia. Have you considered a video about Dieago Garcia? What it is, why it is important for military maritime logistics, the international politics at play there, and China's influence via Mauritius and that country's sovereignty claim to Dieago Garcia.

[@annenelson5656]

It would be interesting. I worked on an ATC there back in 1984/5.

[@WasLostButNowAmFound]

Hello there Mr. Spy 😂

[@thomass.9604]

They have recently reached agreement whereby Mauritius not will gain control of Diego Garcia only the surrounding islands.

[@leswatson]

A commonsense explanation of this situation without the stupid hype. Thank you.

[@jockmchaggis6797]

It might not be.. but there's a wreck of a WW2 Liberty ship in the Thames estuary that would probably be worse than Beirut.. It has almost 11,000 bombs (the equivalent of 1400 tonnes of TNT still on board...) it would apparently be the largest non nuclear explosion in history if it went off

[@petergaskin1811]

If the Mongomery goes off, Sheerness is gone - permanently.

[@mdt105]

That's the Richard Montgomery, it's not really anywhere near where this ship is anchored.

[@almac2598]

The voice of knowledge and reason.

[@1BigBen]

bigger problem is, if it gets offloaded and cargo put in temp place and ending up in legal limbo, think UK version of 2020 Beirut explosion

[@mahbriggs]

When government bureaucrats get involved, anything thing is possible! The ship itself and its cargo is not currently a problem! Unless the government turns it into one!

[@ZAR797]

Thanks Sal. You have allayed many fears. I found the technical aspects very interesting. I'm located in the Southern hemisphere. Good Job!

[@jonvagg]

Some UK sources are quite suspicious about this vessel, but for reasons you didn't cover in any depth. The route it's taken, with claims it's wandered off-course at times to pass close to oil rigs, the changes of destination, the backtracking at different times for different reasons, and investigations into the managing company are being used as the basis for claims it may not even be carrying the stated cargo and could instead be a Russian intelligence-gathering ship. It could for example have been gathering info on the rigs, undersea pipelines and other installations plus investigating how closely co-ordinated the various national maritime agencies are. This obviously goes some way further than what we know as fact, but it wouldn't be too far-fetched for Russia to want to work out how best to cause economic damage to the UK and other European countries.

[@NotASeriousMoose]

Yeah its like hybrid warfare doesn't exist in Sals reality

[@the.just.able.biker67]

In the same way a burglar deliberately sets off an alarm system to see how long it takes for the cops to show up.

[@gascaptain]

Good balanced report, much better than UK media have produced todate. Thanks

[@QALibrary]

I more worried about the SS Montgomery

[@WhiteWolf65]

Agreed. If Montgomery goes up, the shockwave in the water column would jostle the ship laying in the silt of the estuary. Some of the shells move, one goes off, and an explosive cascade could wipe out the Isle of Sheppey and more.

[@MartinHuyton-o6i]

I'm worried about the oil and gas storage depot on the Thames north bank, Canvey Island, just upstream from Montgomery. It's huge. 300,000 cubic metres of volatile juice.

[@WhiteWolf65]

@@MartinHuyton-o6i That is over 50kms up the estuary; the facility has a seawall that is at least 3m above high tide, and tanks are 100m further in. I'd worry about the housing first at Margate, along the south coast to Isle of Sheppy, and northeast coast at Shoeburyness.

[@tomonabudget]

Great content as usual! I've listened to do many experts that appeared in time radio in relation to this incident. You really manage to explain the situation with grace and clarity that a layman can understand.

[@bradfry3246]

I sailed with Sealift Command as well

[@jackkohler1392]

Thanks Sal! Wish more people would understand and communicate this as well as you! The blast in Lebanon was actually in a warehouse right in the middle of a built up area- not miles away from shore. And to be fair, the stuff sat their for months before someone put a firework into it. Also, lets face it...Lebanon isnt the most secure place in the world!

[@madpete6438]

Tow it to Kaliningrad or St Petersburg (Leningrad in old money). I'm sure that load will be better behaved in a Russian Port. After all they loaded it.

[@markkulehtinen4733]

The ship is not going through the Danish Channel. Nobody, maybe except the Russians, want's in the Baltic Sea.

[@nigelgarrett7970]

​@@markkulehtinen4733 The Russians don't want it there either. The reason it sailed from Kandalaksha was because the Russians were worried about a Ukrainian drone hitting something like this in a big port.

[@Kippis..]

No dont give it tuo russia

[@aritakalo8011]

@@nigelgarrett7970 Well it sailed out of Kantalahti, since it's job there was done. It loaded 20 000 tonnes of AN there. It's a major export port for Russians and well I guess given it is for example near to Euro Chem facilities, well fertilizer/AN producers use it as their regular loading port. After loading.... it headed out to Canaries and hit something... Thing is.... as soon as that ship leaves pier with cargo, it ain't Russian concern in their mind. The cargo is by then owned by the buyer or shipper, the ship is under contract with the customer, the sale of fertilizer has happened. Euro Chem or Ural Chem, whomever the producer got their money. Port of Kantalahti got their payment for loading the cargo. End of Russian involvement. Nobody is paying Kantalahti to unload the cargo, so they want nothing to do with it. That would involve risk... and not getting paid. With Russia it is exactly same as Norway, Sweden, Latvia etc. They have nothing to gain from allowing the ship to port and lot of while low probability still major effect risks. It was just bulk standard AN fertilizer shipment with nothing special... Russia to Canaries, until the ship got in trouble and can't make it to Canaries to the one port being lined up to be paid to unload the cargo and with customer willing to pay for the AN to be delivered to that ports side and be unloaded there. All other ports go "20 000 tonnes of AN and nobody is paying us to care for that hassle, no thank you, you stay out there in the sea and anchorage." Like the ownership could be Russian... But just as likely not. Since many customers buy Russian fertilizer, it is one major export of theirs. Rest of the paper work seems to be "tax havens and flag of convenience". Just as many many other shippers around the world to minimize costs. I'm sure, if it could get to Russian port with lined up customer needing 20 000 tonnes of AN, they would unload it. It's just.... Russia don't have much need of shiploads of AN, when they are floating in train loads of AN all the time. As said AN is major export item, not import item.

[@skayt35]

Hey, the cities were called Königsberg and St. Petersburg before the Soviets renamed them after communist leaders, Kalinin and Lenin.

[@cowboywoodard2569]

Starting to Watching you, great work. And Howdy from Gonzales Texas.

[@paulsilva3346]

A question what about the ammunition ship that sunk and broke its back in the Thames in the 1940s during World War II 14:53

[@Beefy5039]

SS Richard Montgomery still there rusting away

[@petergaskin1811]

It was beached on a sandbank and got suck. The back-braking bit came later. The SS Richard Montgomery. Gets checked out by divers every couple of years or so. No more than 1,400 Tons of shells on board with a whole load of heavily corroded fuses and exploders.

[@nathanwilliams4423]

Thanks for the peace of mind brother!! ❤

[@nhansen197]

Never mind the potential explosion, how far would the wave surge go?

[@WhiteWolf65]

EXACTLY, that Nuke-plot does NADA to extrapolate THAT. Sloppy, Sal.

[@nnamdianyadike6151]

Well said, you read my mind! As a Londoner, I am not reassured by this account. 20,000 tonnes of AN is the conventional explosive equivalent of two Hiroshima sized bombs. Were that ship's cargo to explode in its present location it would create a tsunami that would surge up the Thames and swamp much of central London.

[@philipsteerment2826]

I had been waiting for your clear, concise, accurate and very informative report. And I must say I concur with your suggestions as to what actions should be taken internationally 👏👏

[@wgowshipping]

Thanks again!

[@TheWebstaff]

Dont forget about the SS Richard Montgomery! If these two meet...

[@TheWebstaff]

Ah you mentioned it!

[@WhiteWolf65]

If Ruby goes bang, it could transmit a shockwave in the water that would jostle the Montgomery wreck, and could very well cause her to go up with a MUCH bigger explosion (and one closer to shore!)

[@WOTArtyNoobs]

@@WhiteWolf65 The Montgomery is only 1,400 tons of munitions. The 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate is equivalent to 16,000 tons of high explosive. The problem with the Montgomery is the proximity to shore. It's at the end of the Medway estuary into the Thames and relatively shallow. The masts stick up out of the water at low tide. Just today a German warship was transiting the Thames for the Pool of London and was filmed as it went past the Montgomery. The shockwave of the Ruby would definitely reach the Montgomery, but it's the tidal wave that would move the wreck so much that it could set off secondary explosions. This has long been known. There was even a popular spy novel which had the Montgomery as part of the plot. If the Montgomery went up, debris would land in Southend, Central London and most of Kent. Sheerness would probably be wiped out along with a major power station on the Isle of Grain. Boris Johnson was very keen to build London's third airport, one as big as Heathrow, on the Isle of Grain. That is until it was pointed out that the Montgomery would be on the flight path of all those airliners!

[@TheWebstaff]

@@WOTArtyNoobs yeah I don't think that was the main reason Boris island was sunk.

[@Luckydog557]

Thanks for the info. You’re sooooooo much better than the news blurb I heard about this topic.

[@ecossearthur]

Exactly right Sal... They have been shipping fertilizer for so many years... The port explosion was a way different situation and the root cause...

[@RosemarieStars]

Thanks for the perspective. I feel much better now.

[@jerryodell1168]

There would be a Tsunami from the explosion. Would that be enough to damage the land areas? My guess, probably not.

[@dirtdevil70]

Wouldnt cause a tsunami

[@jerryodell1168]

@@dirtdevil70 Did send a tsunami when we did test blasts off the side of the ship in the early 1060s to see how well it would handle an explosion. And even a little tsunami causes shore wash outs. That's why the ship was way out to sea. The wave has a reverse wave action so that it dissipates as goes out.

[@WhiteWolf65]

There would be the equivalent to a storm surge... and the land over on the Isle of Sheppey isn't that high. A wave of 3 metres would be DISASTROUS.

[@WOTArtyNoobs]

@@WhiteWolf65 The SS Kielce explosion in 1966 caused a tidal wave of 3 feet. 20,000 tons of AN would create a sizeable tidal wave that would not only flood London and set off the Montgomery, but also endanger the Netherlands.

[@MartinHuyton-o6i]

@@WOTArtyNoobs It would pose a potential danger to England, France, Belgium and Holland, not to mention the oil storage plant on the Thames north bank (Canvey Island) which is just upstream from SS Montgomery. It's one of the biggest fuel storage plants in Europe.

[@sharonhearne5014]

When the explosion in Texas City, Texas occurred a large hunk of molten metal slammed through our home’s front bay window. We lived miles away across the Houston Ship Channel from that city which shows the extreme power of that explosion.

[@rshawiii]

Im not sure why this is even a story. People need to visit Houston/Galveston ports, channels, the ICW. My grandfather was in Texas City the day the Grandcamp was burning, calling on his customers. They wanted him to go down to the docks and watch the ship burn. He was a contankerous Scotch-Irishman, with and attitude and a small child at home and no time or patience for such BS. His friends/customers perished. My son is a MM and sailed on coastal shuttle tankers hauling crude and refined product. I asked him which he considered more dangerous, Crude or Gasoline. Answer: Crude.

[@paulfrost8952]

I doubt your grand father was Scotch-Irish since Scotch is an alcoholic drink, I think you meant Scots or Scottish Irish

[@rshawiii]

@@paulfrost8952 Well my grandmother did chastise him for drinking. LOL.

[@stephenmellentine]

My grandmother's then my parents' company hauled ammonium nitrate in prill form multiple times daily via dry-bulk pneumatic tractor trailer to open pit copper mines in AZ. Nothing particularly dangerous about it - just a lot of small, white balls that people sprinkle on their lawns or crop fields. It takes quite a bit of fuel oil (diesel) soaked into the ammonium nitrate to create ANFO, but you *still* need a high energy charge, a la blasting cap, detonation cord (think explosive paracord) or small sticks of dynamite -- for it to have its intended energy release.

[@Greenmachine305]

Nobody seems to want a date with this girl.

[@henrykuppens9097]

She may go nuclear in you annoy a bit. 😂

[@michajastrzebski4383]

she's sensitive like my ex

[@tonysimons2860]

Thanks, that is the best factual description of the situation that I have seen others have been short of facts but high on the worst case.

[@Inkling777]

What business did this captain have demanding Norway provide him with a harbor? He had sailed from a Russian port with a Russian cargo. This was a Russian problem. He should have returned to Russia. Any scheme to deal with this sort of problem should, first and foremost, impose demands on the exporting country not this confusing array of holding companies etc.

[@wgowshipping]

33 knot winds and high seas forced him to seek shelter.

[@mahbriggs]

Any port in a storm!

[@jimrankin2583]

Isn’t the fertilizer cargo subject to sanctions against Russian exports? Maybe that’s another reason most countries don’t want to be involved.

[@wgowshipping]

@@jimrankin2583 No fertilizer and food are not sanctioned.

[@soyoucametosee7860]

There are some comments on some other page that are implying that a russian ship could be turned into a bomb. The commnters gave very little info on their idea. Now that you have talked about the Ruby, this kind of fits the bill. Thanks for clarifying this, Sal. I saw video of the Beruit blast. Pretty terrifying.

[@Richard-od7yd]

Halifax called and asked " hey what are we, Chopped Herring?"

[@scout2nut]

he ends with it at 13:50

[@wgowshipping]

​@@scout2nutLove comments without watching the whole video.

[@deaconallan]

A good report. What we do not know is how many ships are loaded with ammonium nitrate at port x and arrive at the cargo destination port and are unloaded without incident, or notice. I think the world reaction is just a bit extreme. By the way, the Denmark Strait is up between Iceland and Greenland, not at the between Norway and Denmark. The area you referred to is named Skagerak and Kattegat.

[@frizzlefry5904]

The montgomery, for those that dont know was a liberty ship full of munitions that sunk off southend and sheerness in the 40's and has been monitored ever since as it degrades .

[@alcampbell5831]

Not just ships. 3 -4 weeks ago a truck carrying ammonium nitrate in NSW Australia had a road accident. A bit over 2 hours later it blew up leaving a large crater in the road.

[@DawnTynerJones]

*I'm favoured only God knows how much I praise Him,* $230k every 4weeks! I now have a big mansion and can now afford anything and also support God’s work and the church.

[@DawnTynerJones]

Only God knows how much grateful i am. After so much struggles I now own a new house and my family is happy once again everything is finally falling into place!!

[@KrisNachtigallDomitrovich]

Wow that's huge, how do you make that much monthly?

[@KrisNachtigallDomitrovich]

I'm 37 and have been looking for ways to be successful, please how??

[@DawnTynerJones]

It's Ms. Susan Jane Christy doing, she's changed my life.

[@DawnTynerJones]

I started pretty low, though, $5000 thereabouts. The return came massive. Joey is in school doing well, telling me of new friends he's meeting in school. Thank you Susan Christy, you're a miracle.

[@marvinmarlin9655]

Sal, thanks for what you do. In so many cases you are the voice of reason, calmly and knowledgeably putting the case for common sense solutions. It seems at times, that the world is composed of lunatics who have nothing better to do than try to aggravate the ‘hard of thinking’ into a senseless response to situations of which they know nothing. However, the recent situation with Sounion in the Red Sea highlights the plain fact that a lot of people know what should be done but no one does it! That position cannot continue if the right of free passage is to continue?