Lining up for finishing plunder assignment
Article image

The bulk vessel Orient Dream, in far right corner, is currently waiting to offload its cargo of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. Photo was taken in Tasmania, Australia, two days ago.

Published 28 December 2010

 

orient_dream2_26.12.2010_250.jpg

The photo to the right shows bulk vessel Orient Dream on its way into Risdon, Tasmania, Australia. Once arrived, it lined up to await its turn to offload the cargo (above). At time of writing, she had still not started discharging.

The vessel contains phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara. The trade is in violation of international law, and highly unethical as it contributes to maintain the illegal occupation of Western Sahara.

The vessel stopped over in Cape Town, South Africa, first week of December to bunker on its way. Orient Dream is probably owned by Macsteel International Holdings BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and managed by MUR Shipping Holdings, which is the Dubai based shipping division of a joint venture company between Mittal Steel South Africa and Macsteel International Holdings B.V.

The shipment takes place only 3 months after the arrival of the vessel Christine O to the same port (video below). 
 


Earlier this year saw also the arrival of the vessel Star Canopus with the same cargo. 

The imports is carried out by the Australian fertiliser producer Impact Fertiliser.



Update 2 January 2011. Orient Dream is now discharging the phosphates: 
 

orient_dream_02.01.2011_609.jpg



 

orient_dream_02.01.2011b_609.jpg





 

New report: Western Sahara phosphate trade halved

The export of phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara has never been lower than in 2019. This is revealed in the new WSRW report P for Plunder, published today.

24 February 2020

New report on Western Sahara phosphate industry out now

Morocco shipped 1.93 million tonnes of phosphate out of occupied Western Sahara in 2018, worth an estimated $164 million, new report shows. Here is all you need to know about the volume, values, vessels and clients.

08 April 2019

New report on contentious Western Sahara phosphate trade

Morocco shipped over 1.5 million tonnes of phosphate out of occupied Western Sahara in 2017, to the tune of over $142 million. But the number of international importers of the contentious conflict mineral is waning, WSRW's annual report shows.

25 April 2018

New report on global phosphate trade from occupied Western Sahara

Over 200 million dollars worth of phosphate rock was shipped out of occupied Western Sahara last year, a new report from WSRW shows. For the first time, India is among the top importers.

25 April 2017