A damaged ship moored off the north Kent coast with a potentially explosive cargo poses no threat, an MP says.

Ruby - a Maltese-owned and flagged vessel - has been at an anchorage point about 11 miles off Margate since September 25 awaiting repairs.

Veteran Kent MP Sir Roger Gale says he met with maritime minister Mike Kane amid concerns over the vessel.

Ruby is carrying ammonium nitrate, a chemical that can explode but is relatively safe if uncontaminated and stored properly.

But the Conservative MP for Herne Bay and Sandwich reassured residents in a series of tweets on Saturday.

“I am advised that the cargo, originally destined for Africa, of class two ammonium nitrate is safe,” he said.

“Due to damage to the ship, which has not rendered the vessel unseaworthy but requires repair, negotiations are ongoing to unload the cargo.

“(This is) in order to enable the ship to then enter a port, possibly in the United Kingdom or the Irish Republic, for the necessary repairs.

“I have of course asked to be kept informed of any developments but I do not believe my constituents face any threat to their security as a result of the presence of this vessel.”

Sir Roger met the shipping Minister Mike Kane and officials from Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Ruby has about 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate on board.

This is about seven times more than the amount that caused an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, killing more than 200 people in 2020.

She was damaged after leaving the Russian port Kandalaksha on August 22.

The ship was temporarily repaired in Norway on September 5, and classed as seaworthy again, but needs permanent fixing.

But no ports have been willing to grant her passage into harbour and no agreement has been made to transfer the cargo to other ships to allow Ruby to carry on sailing.

Some reports initially referred to the bulk carrier being Russian-owned - but it is owned by a Maltese firm and sails under the island nation’s flag.

Sir Roger added: “I am led to believe that the legal situation is that because the ship itself is neither Russian owned nor flagged no international law has been broken or sanctions breached.”

Ammonium nitrate is an industrial chemical that is used as a fertiliser as well as an explosive for quarrying and mining. It is dangerous if contaminated, mixed with fuel or stored unsafely.