A transport minister has told the House of Lords that a damaged cargo ship carrying potentially explosive fertiliser poses no danger to the people of Great Yarmouth.

Lord Hendy said 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were being safely transferred from the MV Ruby to another ship at Great Yarmouth's Outer Harbour.

The minister was responding to a question from another member of the Lords who asked about the safety of the operation.

Concern had been raised when it was revealed that MV Ruby is carrying more than seven times the amount of ammonium nitrate involved in a Beirut blast which killed 218 people and injured a further 7,000.

Black smoke rises from a fire at warehouses at the seaport of Beirut, LebanonBlack smoke rises from a fire at warehouses at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon Fire burns in the port in Beirut, LebanonFire burns in the port in Beirut, Lebanon Explosion at the Port of BeirutExplosion at the Port of Beirut

Before docking in Great Yarmouth, she had been anchored about 11 miles off the coast of Margate in Kent while awaiting repairs to her hull and propeller, which were damaged in bad weather.

Lord HenryLord Henry (Image: ROGER HARRIS/Wikimedia Commons) Lord Hendy insisted that Peel Ports, which runs the harbour, had plenty of experience handling such cargoes.

He said: "The government have engaged with Peel Ports, which owns the port of Great Yarmouth, and the ship’s management company.

"They have provided guidance and advice to ensure the safe transfer of this cargo from the motor vessel Ruby on to another vessel for onward travel.

"Ammonium nitrate is regularly handled at UK ports and standard health and safety procedures have been, and are being, followed."

He added in another statement: "I am told this is a normal operational activity in Great Yarmouth, and the port says this is not an exceptional activity."

Referring to the Beirut explosion the minister added: "The explosion in Beirut occurred because of the incorrect storage of ammonium nitrate over a long period, and it was being stored in a shed alongside fireworks that caught fire."Mv Ruby docked at Great YarmouthMV Ruby docked at Great Yarmouth (Image: Bruno Brown) Mv Ruby arriving at Great YarmouthMV Ruby arriving at Great Yarmouth (Image: Luke Martin Photography)

Also speaking in the debate was Lord Dannatt, from Norfolk.

He said: My Lords, I am delighted to be able to come to the assistance of the minister and can assure him that there has been very responsible coverage of this incident in Great Yarmouth, as I live not terribly far away.

Lord DannantLord Dannatt (Image: Archant Norfolk 2018) "The Eastern Daily Press yesterday and this morning showed the ship very safely in the outer harbour, with the ammonium nitrate being handled in the way that it has been handled on many occasions in the past.

"I congratulate Peel Ports, Great Yarmouth and the borough council for the way in which they have carried out this operation, despite the scare stories that have appeared in the media, which, by and large, have been groundless."

The port had previously announced in a statement that it adhered to all of the UK's safety regulations as well as international maritime standards.

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The Maltese-registered boat had initially set off from the northern Russian port of Kandalaksha in July and was supposed to be taking her cargo to Africa before becoming damaged.

She arrived in Great Yarmouth being pulled by tug boats in the early hours of the morning of October 28.