Maersk-Detroit

Thousands of Moroccans took to the streets of Tangier and Casablanca on April 20, 2025, protesting the planned arrival of the 'Maersk Detroit', which was believed to be carrying US fighter jet parts to Israel. In Tangier, over 1,000 protesters gathered at various locations, starting their march around 4:30 p.m. LT from the Iberia Palace in the city center. Protesters held signs and chanted slogans like “The people want the ship banned” and “No genocidal weapons in Moroccan waters,” calling for the vessel to be denied entry. The activists said the boxship was carrying F-35 warplane parts from the USA to Israel. The cargo originated from the US Air Force Plant 4 in Fort Worth and was en route to the port of Haifa between April 5 and May 1. The shipment was expected to be transferred at Tangier Med port to another Maersk vessel, the 'Maersk Nexoe', before reaching its final destination. The 'Maersk Detroit' docked at the Tangier Med Port on April 21. Moroccan dockworkers and groups supporting the Palestinian cause released separate statements claiming the cargo included F-35 jet parts bound for Israel. A similar protest took place across the Strait of Gibraltar in Algeciras, Spain, organised by a group called Cádiz for Palestine. They condemned Maersk’s alleged involvement and called on Spanish authorities to block suspected weapons shipments to Israel at ports including Algeciras, Valencia, and Barcelona. Meanwhile, Maersk has denied transporting weapons or ammunition to Israel. The company acknowledged it holds a contract with the US government and sometimes ships military-related equipment under US-Israeli security cooperation but insisted this specific shipment was not headed to Israel. Instead, Maersk said the cargo was destined for other members of the international F-35 fighter jet program. A statement from Morocco’s CGT General Union of Dock Workers and Port Personnel of the Gulf of Fos confirmed that all containers aboard the Maersk Nexoe had been inspected and showed no signs of carrying weapons or jet parts.

The US arm of AP Moller-Maersk has suspended voyages through the Red Sea after two of its container ships came under missile attack while being escorted by the US Navy on Jan 24, 2024. The 'Maersk Detroit' and the 'Maersk Chesapeake' turned around in the Red Sea and were escorted back to the Gulf of Aden, said the company. Three anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired toward the 'Maersk Detroit'. One missile hit the sea, while the warship USS 'Gravely' shot down two others. Both ships were carrying cargo and aid for the US government and were given protection by the navy for the passage through the Bab El-Mandeb strait, said subsidiary Maersk Line Ltd., for which the US military is a major customer on its US-flag ships. Both ships reported seeing explosions close by and the US Navy accompaniment also intercepted multiple projectiles. The crew, ship and cargo were safe and unharmed. The US Navy has turned both ships around and escorted them back to the Gulf of Aden. Maersk Line Ltd. suspended transits in the region until further notice because of the escalation of risk. The attack happened 50 nautical miles (93 km) south of Al Mukha, Yemen. The vessel was targeted by a drone.

Two containers fell over board from the "Maersk Detroit" on Feb 10, 2016, during cargo operations, and smasehd onto a bunker barge alongside. The containers broke up in the incident. The ship which had arrived the previous day left hours later bound for Port Said. Report with photo and video: http://felixstowedocker.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/two-containers-falling-into-sea-hitting.html