Manifest says containers on CMA CGM ship seized by Israeli forces were loaded with lentils
CMA CGM has denied any wrongdoing following the discovery of weapons, allegedly for militant groups in the Gaza Strip, in three containers on one of its vessels.
The weapons were discovered on the 1,700teu Victoria this week after Israeli security forces seized the ship on its way to the Egyptian port of Alexandria. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, accused Iran of being behind the operation.
A CMA CGM spokesman told IFW’s sister publication Ci Online it was taking the matter seriously.
He said: “CMA CGM transports close to nine million containers every year around the world and has an extremely strict policy regarding the respect of national and international ship security and cargo regulations.
“It is important to know that when a person or business wishes to send cargo via a container, the shipping company provides the container and the shipper loads and seals it, and by this act, the shipper is therefore responsible for the cargo declared on the bill of lading.
“Once the container is taken onboard the ship, it is locked and sealed and can only be opened by a Customs officer.”
He said the CMA CGM group strictly prohibited the transport of illegal cargo and imposed the same strict procedures on all its affiliates and agents.
“Regarding the Victoria, the containers were identified and the manifest shows that the sender declared the cargo to be lentils,” the spokesman added.
“If it is confirmed that the cargo loaded happens to be illegal and of a different nature to the manifest, the group will give its full assistance to tracking down and bringing the persons responsible to justice.”
Damian Brett | Fri, 18 Mar 2011, IFW News