The Port of Abidjan Holds Cargo Ship Offshore Amid Safety Concerns

The Port of Abidjan in the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) has decided to hold the cargo ship laden with ammonium nitrate offshore while it reviews safety concerns raised in the community and the local media. The ongoing drama began in September with the bulker Ruby and now involves the Barbados-flagged cargo ship Zimrida (37,296 dwt).

Concerns have been reported in the Ivory Coast regarding the possibility of contamination and instability of the cargo aboard the vessel. The vessel took on board nearly all of the 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer that was initially shipped from Russia last summer. The first ship, Ruby (37,000 dwt), encountered damage in an Arctic storm and sought refuge in Norway before finally offloading its cargo in Great Yarmouth, UK.

Serenity Ship Management, based in the UAE, which manages Ruby, arranged for the cargo to be transferred to another vessel it manages, Zimrida. However, reports in the British press suggested that some of the cargo had been contaminated with fuel oil and subsequently dumped into the North Sea. This has raised concerns in Abidjan about the potential contamination of the cargo aboard the Zimrida.

Port officials announced on January 4 that they have decided to hold the vessel offshore while they convene a meeting on January 6 with the buyer of the cargo, the carrier, and customs officials. The Zimrida arrived off the coast of Ivory Coast on December 30 and was scheduled to dock on January 6 in Abidjan to offload 3,000 tons of the fertilizer, which is in bags. The fate of the remainder of the cargo remains unknown.

The port emphasizes that all cargoes, including ammonium nitrate, are subject to strict safety protocols. In 2023, the port of Abidjan handled 20,000 tons of traffic, and in 2024, it handled 38,000 tons.

“This is the place to reassure the Ivorian populations that all goods entering or disembarking in Ivorian ports are subject to diligent control by the competent State services, which constantly monitor the health and safety of the populations,” the port authority stated.

As of late Monday afternoon local time, the Zimrida remains offshore, awaiting further instructions according to its AIS signal.