In brief
Amidst public fear surrounding a boat carrying ammonium nitrate near Abidjan, Ivory Coast port officials insist all safety measures have been enacted. The cargo is to remain in the outer harbour as a precaution, even as environmentalists voice concerns over its storage at the port.
Port officials in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, have sought to quell concerns stemming from a ship laden with 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a compound linked to previous disasters. Hien Yacouba Sie, head of the port authority, assured the populace that all necessary safety regulations are being strictly enforced.Locals have expressed alarm over the presence of this potentially explosive fertilizer just off the coast of the bustling city, home to over six million residents. The ammonium nitrate onboard the vessel Zimrida had been part of a shipment that originated in Russia before facing trouble during transit to the U.K. In a previous incident, a portion of that cargo was discarded off the coast of England due to contamination.Despite the port authorities affirming the safety of the remaining cargo, which reached Abidjan eight days ago, residents remain wary, haunted by memories of toxic waste incidents from years past. To reassure the public, officials invited media, including the BBC, onboard the Zimrida to inspect the freight.With all five holds of the ship opened, the white bags of ammonium nitrate were displayed prominently, but concerns flagged when a fire truck was stationed nearby. Port spokesman Aboubakar Toto indicated that the delay in unloading the cargo was simply procedural and awaiting further orders, despite the checks already being passed.Environmental NGO Robin des Bois emphasized the risks involved in using the port as a freight storage facility, arguing for the immediate transfer of the ammonium nitrate to its buyers. However, Ivorian authorities maintain that such shipments are routine, citing that over 40,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had been safely unloaded at the same port earlier in the year.Currently, 7,600 tonnes of the ammonium nitrate onboard the Zimrida is earmarked for agriculture within Ivory Coast, while the remaining cargo will be sent to destinations including Luanda, Angola, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, upon departure.
