RHOSUSscrapped
Course/Position
Latest ports
Latest Waypoints
Latest news
Russian owner of ship at the centre of Beirut port blast
Bulgaria has arrested Igor Grechushkin, the Russian owner of the 'Rhosus', which was at centre of the Beirut port blast that killed 218 people on Aug 4 2020, Lebanese judicial officials said on Sep 15, 2025. Grechushkin, who also has Cypriot nationality, was arrested last week at the Vasil Levski Sofia airport after arriving on a flight from Cyprus. The arrest came nearly five years after a Lebanese investigative judge issued two arrest warrants through Interpol for him and the vessel's captain, Boris Prokoshev, also a Russian national. The judicial officials said papers were being prepared requesting the transfer of Grechushkin to Lebanon for questioning. If Grechushkin is not handed over, Lebanese investigators could travel to Bulgaria to question him there. Earlier this year, Lebanon elected President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and a Cabinet on a reformist platform who pledged to complete a probe. The disaster was triggered by a fire in a warehouse where a vast stockpile of industrial chemical ammonium nitrate had been haphazardly stored for years. Since its early days, the probe into the explosion has faced a slew of political and legal challenges. In December 2020, lead investigator Fadi Sawan charged former prime minister Hassan Diab and three ex-ministers with negligence. As political pressure mounted, Sawan was removed from the case.But investigative judge Tarek Bitar summoned senior political, judicial and security officials in July in a renewed push to close the case.
Sank in Beirut
Rhosus sank between 16.02-18.02.2018 picture: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/world/middleeast/lebanon-explosion-ship.html
Cargo of seized Rhosus caused devastation of Beirut
On Aug 4, 2020, the cargo of 2.150 tons natriumnitrate of the Moldawian flagged cargo m/v 'Rhosus', 1900 gt (IMO: 8630344), which was stored in warehouses in the port area of Beirut exploded, killng at least 135 people, injuring several thousands, making hundred thousands homeless and devastating the port and large parts of the city. The ‘Rhosus‘ had entered the port on Sep 23, 2013, enroute from Batumi to Beira due to technical trouble. The ship was detained following a PSC and abandoned by its owners. Only the Russian captain, two engineers and the bosun remained on board and could only be repatriated after lengthy diplomatic struggles. The cargo was unloaded and stored in warehouses in the city, the ship remained abandoned in port.
Upload News