The British coastguard will monitor a damaged ship carrying 20,000 tonnes of explosive nitrate fertiliser from Russia that is expected to pass through the Channel after refuelling.
Ruby, a Maltese-flagged cargo ship floating off Kent, has been denied entry to other countries due to concerns about its cargo.
The ship left Kandalaksha in Russia last month carrying a large shipment of ammonium nitrate, a fertiliser that can also become an explosive in certain conditions and when exposed to fire.
There have been mounting safety fears about the vessel as it sought a port in which to undergo repairs, having cracked its hull after running aground in a storm.
Ruby eventually made its way towards British waters this week while being escorted by a tug. The