Spain Bars Cargo Ship Accused of Carrying Explosives to Israel

Spanish authorities are saying that for the first time, they refused entry for a cargo ship believed to be carrying explosives to Israel.

The Foreign Ministry this morning 17 May reported that a Danish-owned vessel, the Marianne Danica (2,200 dwt) had been denied its request for permits both to transit Spanish waters and to make a port call in Cartagena showing Spain’s position to deny support for the war in Gaza.

Reports are of infighting within the Spanish government over possibly arms ships passing through Spain to Israel.

The Spanish newspaper El Pais reports the vessel is transporting 27 tonnes of explosives. A small general cargo ship (72 meters / 236 feet) the ship departed Chennai, India, and made a stop in the Cape Verde Islands before the scheduled stop in Cartagena on May 21. Reports said the final destination is the Israeli port of Ashdod. 

The situation started earlier this week when activists identified the Borkum (5,489 dwt) as the target of their protests. The ship which is owned by German interests and registered in Antigua and Barbuda asked for a permit to make a port call in Cartagena with the activists calling for a denial accusing the ship of transporting arms to Israel.

Transportation Minister Oscar Puente took to social media announcing that the government ministry had checked the vessel’s documentation saying they were in order and the ship’s declared destination was Koper, Slovenia but the Palestinian activist supporters said the documents did not have the govt letter head and they said the vessel was bound for Israel

The Danish owners of the vessel that was blocked contend …their ship will be proceeding as planned. The Marianne Danica’s AIS signal shows the vessel off West Africa heading for the Strait of Gibraltar.