A damaged cargo ship, MV Ruby, carrying 20,000 tons of explosive ammonium nitrate, is being towed towards the Baltic Sea, raising significant safety concerns.

The ship, which sustained hull damage while docked at a Russian port on the Kola Peninsula, is currently off the coast of Norway and is expected to pass by Denmark and Sweden en route to Lithuania.

Swedish authorities have convened crisis meetings to monitor the situation closely, although the Swedish Coast Guard reports that the situation is under control.

The ship's destination remains uncertain, and it has been denied entry to Lithuanian ports.

The ammonium nitrate cargo, while not an explosive itself, poses a significant risk if exposed to high heat, reminiscent of the catastrophic Beirut explosion in 2020. Norwegian authorities have established a 500-meter safety zone around the vessel, and discussions are ongoing about finding a suitable emergency port for repairs.