At its shareholder meeting on Tuesday 18 March, shipping company Maersk, one of the world's largest shipping companies, came under heavy criticism from pro-Palestinian activists. Worldwide protests were held against the Danish company for transporting military goods, including weapons and missile parts, to Israel and other conflict zones.
Vincent Clerc, CEO of Maersk.
Activists and 70 NGOs accused Maersk of being involved in shipping war material for the Israeli army, which would contribute to the conflicts in Gaza and the West Bank. In Antwerp, activists from Free Palestine campaigned in front of the port house. Carmen Claessen, one of the spokespersons, said, 'Maersk transports killing machines, equipment used to kill Palestinians, such as rocket parts and tanks driving through residential areas in the West Bank.'
The criticism is not new; pressure on Maersk has risen sharply recently, with multiple protests in several countries. Shareholders in Denmark asked the company via a vote to stop transporting military cargoes, but the board rejected the request.
Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc responded to the criticism at the meeting by stressing that the company does not ship arms or munitions to active conflict zones. 'Maersk has a strict policy regarding arms and ammunition, and we stand by this policy,' Clerc stated. He did acknowledge the company's involvement in transporting military equipment, but stressed that the transport of war material is strictly regulated.
Nevertheless, criticism continues, with opponents arguing that Maersk's role in the logistics of military goods is not without consequences. The international protests against the company thus mark a new chapter in the debate over the ethical responsibility of companies in conflict zones.
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Maersk
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CEO Vincent Clerc stays behind policy