Beirut & Mozambique, 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate

 

Cornelder, the managing company of the port of Beira, told Lusa on Wednesday that it had never been notified of the operation of a ship containing 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate destined for Mozambique, a cargo that may have caused the explosions in Lebanon.“Normally, before receiving a ship, we are notified. In this case, we never received any notification from a ship coming to the port of Beira with these characteristics and cargo,” said António Libombo, deputy executive director of Cornelder, concessionaire of the Port of Beira since 1998.Based on the ship’s records and port schedules, the Associated Press speculated that the ship carrying ammonium nitrate, a cargo that is said to have caused explosions in the port of Beirut, was destined for Mozambique, having docked at Beirut port due to mechanical problems in 2013

An article written in October 2015 in the specialist shipping publication shiparrested.com also indicated that the ship was bound for the port of Beira, but had moored in the port of Beirut due to mechanical problems, its cargo being confiscated and stored for several years in the Lebanese capital. Lusa contacted the Mozambican Ministry of Transport and Communications, which also said it had not been informed about a vessel with these characteristics that year.

Two successive blasts rocked Beirut on Tuesday, causing more than a hundred deaths and 4,000 injuries, according to the latest assessment by the Red Cross. Beirut’s city governor Marwan Abboud said up to 300,000 people have lost their homes and authorities are working on providing them with food, water and shelter.It is believed that the violent explosions were caused by material confiscated and stored in the port for several years.