The owner of the ship Rhosus, whose cargo could have exploded in Lebanese Beirut, will not be held responsible for the tragedy, said Nikolai Sukhanov, chairman of the Far Eastern regional organization of the Russian Trade Union of Seafarers (RPSM).
Earlier it became known that about 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate seized by customs six years ago were detonated in the Lebanese capital.
“The vessel was detained by the port authorities, that is, it became the property of the port, and all responsibility for its maintenance already falls on the port. In this case, the port had to take measures and, knowing that the cargo was dangerous, organize proper storage. Now neither the crew nor the ship owner bears any responsibility. All the fault lies with the port authorities, ”RIA Novosti quotes Sukhanov.
According to REN TV, the owner of the Rhosus ship detained in Beirut, where the cargo of ammonium nitrate exploded, was Russian businessman Igor Grechushkin.
The Russian Trade Union of Seafarers said that in 2013 a ship under the Moldovan flag was carrying “dangerous goods” from Batumi to Mozambique and unscheduled to the port of Beirut. It was also detained there for technical violations of operation.
As a result, the merchant was forced to pay a forfeit, and then initiated bankruptcy proceedings. Who became the owner of the ship after Grechushkin is unknown.
The explosion in the Lebanese capital occurred on Tuesday, August 4, in the area of the seaport of Beirut near the Lebanese naval base. The facades of several buildings located near the port collapsed, residential buildings and offices were damaged. The building of the Russian Embassy in Lebanon was also damaged, where the glass was broken.
According to the latest data, the explosion killed 135 people, 80 residents are reported missing, more than 4 thousand were injured.