Ship Loaded With Lethal Ammonium Nitrates Threatens Beirut Again

It’s said that history repeats itself, but the repetition of the deadly scenario involving ammonium nitrates has come far too soon. The ghost of the “Roseus” ship, which caused hundreds of deaths and devastated Beirut on August 4, 2020, has once again arisen with the arrival of the Sky Light ship in the port of Beirut.

As fears mounted that history would repeat itself, the Sky Light ship, loaded with the dangerous cargo, broke down and requested entry to the harbor. Although the ship was initially scheduled to unload its cargo in the port of Sidon, it was diverted to Berth 14 in the port of Beirut. However, Omar Itani, the general director of the port, refused to allow it to enter and unload its dangerous cargo.

Despite a judicial decision by Judge Ghassan Khoury to allow the ship to enter the port, it has now been relocated to a waiting area while the necessary examinations are carried out. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture’s teams have refused to take samples at sea, leaving the people of Beirut in a state of fear and uncertainty. Will history repeat itself, or will Beirut escape this latest threat?