The ship Rhosus, from which the ammonium nitrate exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, was probably confiscated, was detained in the port of Seville in July 2013, according to the website of the Spanish Ministry of Transport on August 5.
It is noted that the Rhosus vessel was sailing under the flag of Moldova. The reasons for the detention for two weeks were not specified.
In addition, the website of the trade union of seamen of Russia reports that in 2013 a ship under the Moldovan flag transported “dangerous goods” from Batumi to Mozambique and unscheduled to the port of Beirut. It was also detained there for technical violations of operation.
According to TASS, presumably, the seized cargo and detonated in the capital of Lebanon.
A powerful explosion thundered in the port of Beirut on August 4, 137 people died, about 5 thousand were injured. Another 300 thousand people lost their homes, and several dozen are missing.
The explosion damaged and destroyed more than a hundred buildings.
According to the latest information from the Lebanese police, the explosion was caused by a fire during welding. Detonated about 2.7 thousand ammonium nitrate, seized by customs six years ago and stored in one of the warehouses in the port.
As it became known, the explosive mixture was confiscated from the Rhosus vessel, which belonged to the Russian businessman Igor Grechushkin.