https://www.tradewindsnews.com/ports/death-toll-rising-after-confiscated-cargo-explodes-in-beirut-port/2-1-852452

The 4,100-dwt general cargo vessel Mero Star (built 1983) or the 6,300-dwt tweendecker Raouf H (built 1985) were the two vessels nearest the source of the explosion at the time of the blast.

Both vessels had recently arrived in Beirut after having called at Mariupol in Ukraine, according to AIS data.

The Sierra Leone-flagged Mero Star is managed by El Reedy Shipping of Egypt and is owned by Delaware-registered company Friends Shipmanagement Inc, according to Equasis.

The Comoros-flagged Raouf H is managed by Lebanese company Cedar Marine Services and owned by Raouf Marin Co SA, according to databases.

TradeWinds has been unable to reach the management companies for comment.

Dryad reported that three tugs are also believed to have been in close proximity to the explosion, but the status of the vessels is currently unknown.

AIS data shows eight vessels were berthed at Beirut's Mar Mikhael dock area on Tuesday evening.

Only two vessels — the Fairmont Shipping Canada-managed 2,794-dwt vehicle carrier City of Rome (built 1999) and CMA CGM’s 11,388-teu CMA CGM Lyra (built 2011) — continued to transmit AIS signals on Wednesday morning.

Al Jazeerah News reported that Abou Merhi Cruises’ 7,500-gt cruiseship Orient Queen (built 1989) was badly damaged and several crew were injured.

Photos show the ship afloat but listing against a dock directly opposite the epicentre of the blast.

TradeWinds has reached out to Abou Mehri Cruises for comment.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said that peacekeepers with Maritime Task Force, whose vessels are docked at the port, were wounded