Lexicus
Deity
Anyone have an idea why they were packing this dangerous cargo on a city dock rather than letting sink with the ship?
https://stableseas.org/blue-economy...Fv4EGrB0OvYKabvhsQVEa_SXiJSnE5Idd5Py-EcCXch1o
The 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that detonated on Tuesday can be traced back to the Rhosus, which called into the Port of Beirut on September 23, 2013 after experiencing technical difficulties. The ship, sailing under a Moldovan flag, was en route from Georgia to Mozambique. Once in port, the Rhosus underwent an inspection by Port State Control technicians who found significant deficiencies and banned it from resuming operations.
The Rhosus. Image Source: https://www.balticshipping.com/vessel/imo/8630344#gallery-2
The majority of the ship's crew were repatriated, but the captain and three of the crew members were forced to stay aboard. Unfortunately, their situation would continue to deteriorate as all attempts to contact the owner of the ship failed to elicit a response. Further complicating matters were immigration regulations that prevented the crew from even deboarding the ship.
With the crew unable to deboard, and with no incoming supplies or provisions, the situation aboard the Rhosus quickly became a humanitarian issue which even diplomatic efforts failed to resolve. Eventually, the crew contacted legal professionals who successfully argued that the crews’ lives were threatened not only by their stranding, but also due to the dangerous nature of the cargo. The crew received an emergency injunction from the judge, and shortly thereafter left Beirut.
After the departure of the Rhosus’ crew, and the continued silence of its owner, the Port Authority was left with responsibility over the highly explosive contents of the ship. Although currently unsubstantiated, it is possible that legal claims prevented the auctioning of the ammonium nitrates which were left on land storage as the only avenue for the safekeeping of the material. At some point between July 2014 and October 2015, the ammonium nitrate was moved to a warehouse where, ostensibly, it remained until the catastrophic explosion.