Protesters have continued to target Israeli shipping company ZIM, with activists appearing at Port Botany and the port of Melbourne. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Port Botany on Saturday November 11th in an attempt to block the arrival of container ship Contship Dax (IMO 9675822), according to local reports.
The Palestine Justice Movement Sydney and Trade Unionists for Palestine groups had announced the planned protest on November 3rd.
NSW Police advised transport operators to avoid carrying ZIM-branded containers along Foreshore Road at Port Botany while protest activity was underway.
The Contship Dax originally runs the New Zealand to Australia service (N2A) for ZIM. It had been scheduled to call at Melbourne on November 8th, followed by Sydney on November 11th, but the port calls were rotated early last week. The vessel berthed in Sydney on November 8th and is now scheduled to berth in Melbourne on November 17th.
The protest at Botany followed a demonstration on November 9th, when protesters occupied a roadway in Melbourne’s Webb Dock, where another ZIM vessel was due to arrive. Protesters carrying Palestinian flags blocked access to the Victoria International Container Terminal and ACFS Webb Dock Empty Container Park.
Another ZIM container ship, the Calandra (IMO 9445887), operated by the Gold Star Line on the China Asia Express (CAX) service, is scheduled to call at Patrick East Swanson Dock on November 15th. The association has cautioned that the vessel might become the target of protest action in the Swanson Precinct.
As of May 2023, ZIM was operating 139 container ships with a combined capacity of nearly 600,000 teus. As opposed to other major carriers, ZIM relies heavily on the chartering of ships.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthis leader has said that the group will target Israeli ships in Red Sea. “Our eyes are open to constantly monitor and search for any Israeli ship in the Red Sea, especially in Bab al-Mandab, and near Yemeni regional waters,” Abdulmalik al-Houthi said in a broadcast speech.
2016-built, Cyprus-flagged, 9,932 gt Contship Dax is owned by Amalfi Seas SA care of Contships Management Inc of Athens, Greece. It is now entered with Gard on behalf of Contships Management Inc. As of November 15th early local time it was en route from Botany, NSW, to Melbourne, Victoria, ETA November 17th.
2010-built, Antigua & Barbuda-flagged, 35,878 gt Calandra is owned by Hansa Flottbek Feeder III care of manager Leonhardt & Blumberg Ship management of Hamburg, Germany. It is entered with Gard P&I on behalf of MS Hansa Flottbek Feeder III GmbH. As of November 15th early morning local time the vessel was listed as stopped, travelling from Brisbane, Queensland, to Melbourne, Victoria, ETA November 15th.