Maersk Dismisses Allegations Of Shipping Arms To Israel Amid Ongoing War In Gaza

AP Moller Maersk, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, is being pressured by shareholders and activists over its cargo shipments to Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

A proposal to ban the company from transporting arms to Israel was set to be voted on at Maersk’s annual general meeting (AGM).

The Danish shipping giant, however, has dismissed the proposal, stating that it does not transport weapons or ammunition to Israel.

The shareholder proposal was introduced by Kritiske Aktionærer, a Danish investor group, while another activist group, Eko has separately called for Maersk to improve transparency in its human rights policies, particularly concerning cargo transported to conflict zones.

The company’s board has rejected both proposals.

Maersk has stated that its operations comply with international business guidelines, including the UN Global Compact and OECD regulations.

It maintains a strict policy against transporting weapons or ammunition to active conflict zones and applies heightened scrutiny to shipments in high-risk areas, including Israel and Gaza.

The company also clarified that it has contracts with the US government through its US-flagged subsidiary, Maersk Line, Limited (MLL), under the Maritime Security Program.

These contracts involve transporting military and civilian cargo to over 180 countries, including Israel, in support of US security cooperation programs.

However, Maersk emphasised that the US program restricts the transport of classified or sensitive military cargo- such as weapons and ammunition- unless explicitly approved through a Transportation Plan submitted by the transporter and authorised by the US government.

The company stated that MLL has never submitted such a plan, confirming that it has never transported classified or sensitive military equipment under this program.

Despite Maersk’s firm denial, investigative reports from Danish media outlets Danwatch and Ekstra Bladet have alleged that the company has transported armoured combat vehicles and other military hardware to Israel.

Activists argue that Maersk’s statements contradict shipping records and are demanding greater transparency in the company’s human rights policies.

Eko, which has criticised Maerks’s handling of the issue, claims that despite the company’s denial, Danish media reports suggest otherwise.

Maersk dismissing these claims, stated that some activist groups are spreading misleading information by twisting publicly available data and making assumptions without evidence.

According to Gaza health officials, more than 48,000 people have died in Gaza since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023. The attack by Hamas fighters on southern Israel resulted in 1,200 deaths and 253 hostages, according to Israeli figures.

The United Nations has called for countries to impose sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel, arguing that its military actions amount to genocide.

Israel has strongly rejected these claims, stating that it is carrying out operations against Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organisation.

Denmark, where Maerks is headquartered has not imposed an arms embargo on Israel, nor has it introduced any restrictions on weapons shipments to the country.

This has made the shareholder vote at Maersk’s AGM particularly significant. Maersk has acknowledged that the conflict has provoked strong public reactions, activism and polarised debates.

The company stated that while it respects the democratic right to peaceful protest, it has also faced vandalism and aggressive demonstrations targeting its employees and premises.

It has also reaffirmed that it will not be pressured into adopting any single viewpoint but will continue operating within legally defined frameworks.

The AGM scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm CET (2:00 pm GMT) will determine whether the shareholder proposal gains enough support to influence the company’s shipping policies in the future.

Reference: Maersk

Source: Maritime Shipping News