Malta-Based Activist Group Protests Against Bulker Carrying Coal From Colombia To Israel

An activist group based in Malta identified a bulker loaded with coal from Colombia destined to Israel and is demanding government action against this, as the flag state of the vessel.

Also, the Colombian government is demanding action and saying it would use its naval forces to stop future shipments.

The Greek-owned bulker Fortune, registered in Malta, left Puerto Drummond. The 182,620 DWT ship was constructed in 2016 and is now in the middle of the Atlantic and is sailing towards Israel.

It is roughly at a 10-day distance from Israel, but the groups on both sides of the Atlantic are protesting its support of Israel.

The situation came to the forefront after Colombia’s Mining Union filed a complaint. In 2024, the Colombian President Gustavo Petro barred ships of coal and trade with Israel due to its conflict with Gaza.

Colombia’s Minister of Labor, Antonio Sanguino, received the complaint and called for an investigation.

He wrote online that the shipment was a challenge to the government and called for unions and the government to convene. He also threatened that the navy would get a written order to detain ships bound for Israel.

The Times of Malta reported that an activist group has asked the government saying it has to intervene as the flag state of the ship.

They want the vessel to be sent back with the coal to Colombia, and if not, Malta should remove its flag from the ship.

The Group also said that Malta should take the example of Antigua and Barbuda, stating that the Caribbean flag set a standard for preventing ships trading with Israel in its registry.

This is not the first time that activists have targeted commercial ships carrying coal to Israel.

Dockworkers in several ports have sought not to handle ships bound for Israel.

Maersk ships contracted by the U.S government were also the target of boycotts, and recently, an Israeli cruise ship operating in the Mediterranean was also met with protests at several ports.

Source: Maritime Shipping News