Moroccan Dockworkers Demand Boycott Of Maersk Ships Transporting Supplies To Israel

A Moroccan dockworkers’ union has demanded a boycott of a Maersk ship suspected of transporting U.S. military parts to Israel.

The call, backed by religious groups and pro-Palestine activists, has stirred up plans for protests at key Moroccan ports and increased pressure on the government over its ties with Israel.

The Union of Port Workers, part of Morocco’s influential Moroccan Labour Union (UMT), has released a strong statement this week urging all port employees, managers, and operators to refuse any form of service to the Danish ship Nexoe Maersk.

The vessel is reportedly scheduled to arrive at the Port of Casablanca on April 18, 2025.

The union cited reports from activist organisations claiming that the Nexoe Maersk is due to receive a transshipped container from the Maersk Detroit, a U.S.-flagged vessel carrying spare parts for American-made F-35 fighter jets.

According to these reports, the Maersk Detroit, an 84,626 deadweight tonnage (dwt) ship with a capacity of 6,200 TEU, is on its way to Tangier Med Port and is expected to transfer its cargo to the smaller Nexoe Maersk, which is a feeder vessel flagged in Hong Kong and capable of carrying 2,250 TEU.

The container came from Houston and is said to be bound for Israel’s Nevatim Airbase, one of the Israeli Air Force’s key facilities involved in air operations over Gaza.

Maersk has firmly denied the accusations, stating that the claims are false and not based on verified facts. A company spokesperson in Morocco told local media that the allegations were being spread by activist groups and are “misleading.”

They added that when Maersk handles F-35 parts, they are meant for partner countries participating in the F-35 program, not for direct military use or shipment to conflict zones.

The spokesperson further explained that Maersk adheres to strict policies which prohibit the transport of weapons or ammunition into war zones and that all military-related cargo undergoes thorough checks and must comply with international regulations.

In this case, the company said that there was no confirmed military destination or use for the cargo involved.

However, the Moroccan dockworkers’ union insists that facilitating the ship’s movement would be equivalent to supporting violence against Palestinians.

In their statement, they called on national authorities to prevent the Nexoe Maersk from docking not just in Casablanca, but also in Tangier Med, where the container handoff is expected to take place.

A group of Moroccan Islamic scholars and clerics, including members of the influential Al-Adl Wal Ihssan movement, issued a rare religious ruling declaring any support or facilitation of the ship’s arrival as forbidden.

They argued that allowing military shipments to Israel amounts to a betrayal of the Muslim community and cited religious texts to reinforce their stance.

Morocco’s Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement revealed that at least six Maersk ships docked at Moroccan ports between November and December 2024. While only one ship had Israel as its official destination, activists claim others were likely involved in transferring military cargo.

The Maersk Detroit, operated by Maersk Line, Limited under the U.S. flag, is part of the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP). The MSP supports the transport of U.S. government cargo, including military equipment.

Activists have previously protested against this vessel and others linked to similar missions, accusing them of helping carry out U.S. foreign policy under the guise of civilian shipping.

A port source at Tangier Med told local outlet Hespress that authorities are unaware of the exact contents of containers passing through the terminal.

The port is partially operated by Maersk itself.

Dockworkers in Fos-sur-Mer, France, refused to handle the same Maersk ships last week, delaying their scheduled arrivals. France’s CGT union is also considering a full boycott of trade with Israel, following the International Court of Justice’s assessment that Israel’s actions in Gaza may amount to genocide.

As of April 15, tracking data shows the Nexoe Maersk en route to Valencia, Spain, while the Maersk Detroit is heading toward Tangier, Morocco.

In response, pro-Palestinian groups in Morocco have announced plans to stage protests at the Casablanca and Tangier ports on April 18 and 20, respectively. These would be the first large-scale port protests since the Gaza war began in late 2023.

Cities like Rabat, Casablanca, and Tangier have seen massive protests demanding a complete end to diplomatic, military, and economic relations with Israel.

While Moroccan lawmakers and ministers have spoken out against the war and called for a ceasefire, the government has remained silent on the specific allegations about arms shipments and the dockworkers’ call for a boycott.

Maersk has not issued any new statements after the union’s latest announcement.

Reference: newarab

Source: Maritime Shipping News