auonsson Profile picture
Sep 25, 2024 20 tweets 7 min read Read on X
RUBY, infamous for repeating cycles of breaking down and working fine and ran out of Tromsö, NO on safety grounds, loaded with 20k tons ammonium nitrate is closing on heavily trafficked Dover Strait.

She has made good speed, straight course and precise turns last 36h.
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Story is that her hull, rudder and propeller are broken to some extent and she needs repairs.

Her flag state is Malta and that is her stated destination. But Malta has signalled she wont even be allowed into territorial waters. Image
This was the state of her rudder and propulsion just a few days ago. Image
Opinion: I think this situation has seen some really bad handling.

Not only was a potential hybrid threat handled poorly with dockings and transits next to population centres, military bases and critical infra.


The more likely case, a ship and crew in an emergency, has also been neglected. And she keeps on steaming, with an ever present risk. No matter if we speak potential nefarious motives or just a ecological, collision risks.

Fair winds , RUBY.
She has two Malta-flagged tugs right behind her. Circled blue icons.


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Shady movements fertilizer ship RUBY has turned towards Thames / London. She is slowing down atm, but just 4 km shy of crossing into UK territorial waters.

Her last hours of travel look fine from AIS, but she has damages. She is loaded with 20k tons potentially explosive NH4NO3. Image
RUBY's course in relation to the fairway she was travelling along an hour ago. Dashed purple line my edit. Image
Mistake above: it should be 5.3 kilometers to UK, I made a mistake measuring.
AMBER II has changed destination to Rotterdam, Netherlands. Aka Europes top port.

AMBER II is RUBY's assisting tug who has been with her since Tromsö, partly also towing her. Image
"Testing 1,2,3. Are the anglosaxians reacting yet?" Image
RUBY has stopped 3 km from the border of UK, about 120 km from London, 0 km from one of or may the busiest shipping lane in the world. Image
There is a low pressure system with high winds passing. This is a good explanation for RUBY seeking shelter. If this is the reason UK has a new visitor til about Saturday. Image
Have not seen anything interesting on AIS during day.

RUBY is close to stationary and with 20 knots wind I think she might be running engine? Not anchored.

Her tug, AMBER II is driving around slowly and just drove to 1128 m from UK.

No sign of Royal Navy =)
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With winds moving in RUBY was left to her own devices 3h ago when her tug AMBER II took of, broadcasting Rotterdam as both destination and origin, the latter being false.

RUBY was ordered to have a tug by her side by NO authorities and given her condition that is likely well.
3 temporary safety certificates with due date Sep 25 was issued by NO authorities and not renewed.

I am not sure what that means legally. Out of insurance? Less obligations? Nothing?

Would be nice if someone knowledgeable chipped in.
It is also interesting to note how close other ships move to RUBY.
DK authorities advised "widest possible berth" in their navigational warning a few days ago.

Cruise ships, freighters and tanker alike. Just now a tanker even stopped close by (might be fuel for RUBY) Image

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More from @auonsson

Jan 30
4 days ago Baltic States + UK wrote a letter interpreted as "Baltic Sea closing for shadow fleet".

No sanctioned tanker has arrived since (unusual*) but coming 24-36h the claim will get its first test with 5 sanctioned tankers inbound. Image
* It is unusual to not see daily sanctioned tanker arrive to Baltic Sea, usually a few each day.

But, the last 4 days lull ismight be explained by weather: Atlantic storms, low temperature and an increasingly frozen Gulf of Finland.
The ice is growing thicc around Russia's Baltic oil terminals.

Ice data outlets list a bunch of ice-breakers in service, but other sources have stated Russia lack capacity to keep the ice-sensitive rust-bucket tankers in play. Image
Read 10 tweets
Jan 17
Underappreciated fact:

The paths and positions of the cable damages around New Years 2026 were to most of Estonia's internet backbone routes.

Had it fully succeeded/happened by accident (lol) Estonia would have been left with a crippled connectivity. Image
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Read 5 tweets
Dec 31, 2025
I just deleted a post where I had misread a press release.

5 cables have been damaged, but 3 of those from storm conditions. Image
I might not have been that wrong.

There is a SE-EE incident and a FI-EE incident.

The SE-FI is described as two breaks on the same cable last I read.

As per usual the details, allusions and contexts are vague in news and statements.
Updated map of cable breaks between Sweden and Estonia, based on press release from Estonian ministry for digital affairs.

The details are murky and partly incoherent and I have asked Swedish authorities for clarification.

Whats clear: there are several breaks on one cable. Image
Read 8 tweets
Dec 20, 2025
Russian logistics ship ADLER is at anchor IN Sweden.

Possibly broken down. Usually runs heavy weapons to Russian bases in Africa / Middle East.

Was inspected by military aircraft 2h ago. Swedish Coast Guard just arrived to area.

Tnx @butafly over at the better site. Image
@butafly Coast Guard patrol is about to dock in Höganäs, port a few kms south.

Here they will likely pick up more staff for whatever they plan.

Guess: Nationella Insatsstyrkan or something similar. NI are police, but carry proper guns. Or, a cadre of really nitpicky bureaucrats =) Image
@butafly ADLER is very much IN Sweden, only 2 nautical miles from the coast.

Legally Sweden have much more legroom here then if she was outside our territory.

Let's see if we use it. Onboard one would likely find weapons or supplies headed for Libya/Syria or similar Russian base.
Read 18 tweets
Sep 23, 2025
@pmolpmol lists three ships interesting as suspected drone carriers in last night attack on Copenhagen Airport.

In this thread, I will argue that Russian ship ASTROL 1 is an excellent fit.

Right time, right type, erratic track just before attack, highly suspicious background. Image
Article that led me down this rabbit hole, by @pmolpmol nyheder.tv2.dk/live/krimi/202…
ASTROL 1 is a largely flat cargo ship with hatches that likely would serve well as drone pads.

She is a similar model to SCANLARK, recently apprehended by German authorities on drone suspicions and to PORT OLYA 4, drone import ship on Iran trade. Sunk by Ukraine. Image
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Read 15 tweets
Sep 22, 2025
Copenhagen Airport is closed for operations because of drones in the air.

Northern Europes most busy airport. Image
Plane diverting last minute. Image
Copenhagen Police in a ”massive operation on scene” (commanding police officer to news)

dr.dk/nyheder/indlan…
Read 21 tweets

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