Ship Carrying Controversial Cargo of Explosive Material Docks In Abidjan Port

Port Authorities in Abidjan, Ivory Coast told people that a ship loaded with 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, moored in the outer harbour poses no danger to the port or the city.

Zimrida, sailing under the flag of Barbados, was turned away from many ports due to its potentially explosive cargo.

Port officials said that the vessel meets all safety requirements, is damage-free and also adheres to international maritime regulations. They also added that necessary precautions have been taken to ensure safety.

Around 8000 tonnes of the cargo will be unloaded in the Ivory Coast, after which the ship will head towards Angola and Tanzania.

The authorities mentioned that the owner of the cargo had got all the state documents to import the controversial ammonium nitrate, which is used as an agricultural fertilizer but can also be used in explosives.

This ship is not the first which has raised an alarm. In 2020, an ammonium nitrate blast in Beirut killed more than 220 people, showing the risks of mishandling such hazardous material.

Although assured by authorities, campaigners are still critical of the ship mooring in the city, especially when its journey has been complicated. It was refused permission to berth from many ports, including Lithuania and the U.K, before it was allowed in Abidjan.

References: News Central, Barrons

Source: Maritime Shipping News