The cargo to be transshipped in the port of Tangier does not contain military weapons or ammunition
underlined Maersk in a press release on Saturday November 9. The container ship, 300 meters long and 40 meters wide, sailing under the American flag, did not have Israel as its final destination, contrary to the allegations of a lazy press which no longer verifies anything and which serves blind Algerian sales pitches.
One sentence was enough to refute the overbidding of a certain press. “The cargo to be transshipped in the port does not contain military weapons or ammunition,” Maersk wrote in a press release on Saturday November 9.
Let’s start from the beginning: unfounded accusations have been made against the ship Maersk Denver, supposedly involved in the transport of American weapons intended for Israel, accusations relayed by certain Moroccan media, cited by Algerian propaganda. The Maersk Denver is a large capacity container ship registered under the American flag, intended primarily for the transport of commercial goods. According to data from the maritime tracking platform, MarineTraffic, this ship left the port of Tanger Med II in Morocco on November 10 at 3:48 a.m. Its current itinerary indicates that it is en route to the port of Salalah in Oman, with an estimated arrival of December 1. The speed and direction of the ship, measured at 19.3 knots with a heading of 225 degrees, confirm navigation in accordance with a pre-established course.
This technical information, easily verifiable, underlines the absence of any planned stop in Israel, which categorically denies the accusations of arms transfer to this destination. Additionally, Maersk, the ship’s operator, publicly denied the presence of any military cargo on board, asserting the cargo’s full compliance with international and national regulations. “In order to clarify future operations, we have consulted with the Spanish authorities to understand why entry was refused for a cargo that is no different from previous cargoes”indicated the carrier. “We understand that Spain has changed its criteria on a discretionary basis and is now refusing ships carrying anything military-related to or from Israel, even if that cargo is legal.”he regretted.
The diversion of the route and the Algeciras incident
Initially, the Maersk Denver was to dock at the port of Algeciras in Spain, before its itinerary was modified to favor a stop at the port of Tangier Med II. This change of route, which the Spanish authorities have interpreted in an ambiguous manner, could be linked to logistical optimizations or port constraints. However, Maersk confirmed that this change of call did not contravene any international standards. The confusion generated by the Spanish authorities, amplified by unscrupulous media, has given rise to unfounded speculation. It should be remembered that there is no evidence to suggest that this change of route is linked to the transport of military equipment. All cargo transiting through European and Moroccan ports is subject to strict controls, in accordance with the regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and current legislation.
News agencies, particularly the Algerian Press Agency (APS), propagated erroneous details claiming that the Maersk Denver was transporting weapons to Israel and that it had stopped at the port of Tangier for reasons obscure. These allegations were accompanied by diagrams and maps purporting to illustrate the ship’s route. However, a careful examination of these elements reveals glaring contradictions, notably the fact that the map presented explicitly indicates Salalah in Oman as the final destination, and not Israel. The APS has, in this case, published a map which itself refutes the content of its article, demonstrating manifest negligence in the processing of information.
Maersk and its transparency policy
Maersk immediately responded by reiterating its commitment to the transparency and legality of its operations. The company said no weapons or ammunition are on board the Maersk Denver, and all cargo transported complies with international regulations. In a statement broadcast to Danish television, Maersk stressed that its operations are in full compliance with the laws and regulations of the countries of origin and destination, excluding any involvement in the transport of unauthorized military equipment.
The press close to the Islamists no longer verifies anything
The press close to the Islamists rarely complies with ethical standards of journalism, which require verification of sources and increased caution in covering sensitive subjects. In a world where the circulation of information is instantaneous, errors of this type, which have become commonplace, can degenerate into controversies of international magnitude. The suspicions brought against the Maersk Denver are based on misleading elements and an erroneous interpretation of the facts. The transparency of the itinerary, the operator’s declaration and the absence of any tangible proof confirm the harmlessness of the cargo, but also a responsibility in the treatment of very mishandled information.
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