April 2, 2014 Letter from Beirut Harbor Master to the Director of the Directorate General of Land and Maritime Transport
Registration no: [illegible]
Addressee: Director General of Land and Maritime Transport
We would like to inform you that the ship “Rhosus” which was berthed at Quay 11 for 4 months because it was provisionally impounded, was transferred from the Quay. It is carrying a hazardous substance (Ammonium Nitrate) and we found that there is water in the cargo holds which indicates that water is leaking [from the sea] into the ship and which might lead to its sinking. Therefore, we respectfully ask you to instruct the Inspection Service to examine the ship and provide us with a report about its situation and safety to prevent it from sinking with the hazardous material onboard.
Head of Beirut’s Port [Beirut Harbor Master]
Mohammad al-Mawla
[signature]
Translated by Human Rights Watch