New Zealand importers Christmas plundering
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Two vessels are about to arrive New Zealand with phosphates from occupied Western Sahara.

Published 27 December 2012

New Zealand remains one of the largest importers of phosphate rock from the occupied territory. Two vessels are now on their way to the Pacific country with rocks that fuel the conflict in Western Sahara. 

Western Sahara is illegally occupied by Morocco, and importing such phosphates are clearly in violation of international law. The UN Legal Office. has issued a statement to the Security Council on mineral resources in Western Sahara. The Saharawi people, both the ones living as refugees, and the ones living under Moroccan occupation, object to the trade. 

 

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  • At 31 December 2012, the vessel Bulk Titan is scheduled to arrive Northport (or click on photo to the right), continuing towards Tauranga, where she is estimated to be anchored from 1 to 5 of January 2013. The importing company in the ports of Tauranga/Bluff is Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

    According to the website of Ports of Auckland (or download), the agent for the ship, as it arrives Northport (Bluff), is Wilhelmsen Ship Service from Norway. From what WSRW understands, that is not correct. Wilhelmsen Ship Service is, however, agent for the company that is loading a new cargo onto the vessel as it departs New Zealand. 

    Bulk Titan (IMO number 9425758) is said to have the following ownership structure:
    Group Owner: Okouchi Kaiun KK (Japan)
    Shipmanager: Alfa Ship Managers Pte Ltd (Singapore)
    Operator: Okouchi Kaiun KK (Japan)
    DOC Company: Alfa Ship Managers Pte Ltd (Singapore)
    Registered Owner: Batanagar Shipping Corp (Panama)
    Technical Manager: Alfa Ship Managers Pte Ltd (Singapore)

     
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  • On 17 January, another vessel is scheduled to arrilve New Zealand, the Conti Pyrit. See register in Lyttelton to the right (click for high resolution).

    The arrival of the Conti Pyrit has been delayed for several weeks. Conti Pyrit was originally scheduled to arrive New Zealand 25 December 2012. The delay corresponds with an apparently very long stay in El Aaiun harbour. The vessel seems to have been off El Aaiun from November 11th to December 21st. The importing company in Lyttelton is Ravensdown.

    Interestingly, from what WSRW understands, the Conti Pyrit is currently heading from Western Sahara towards São Paolo, Brazil, while the harbour registries in New Zealand tells the vessel is coming from El Aaiun. Logically, it would mean that the vessel either goes to São Paolo to not discharge, or that it discharges only parts of its cargo in Brazil, before continuing towards New Zealand with the rest. The vessel has deadweight tonnes of 56,956.

    Conti Pyrit (IMO number 9452646) is apparently owned by Conti Holding GmbH & Co KG, managed by Conti Reederei Management GmbH and operated by Oldendorff Carriers GmbH & Co, all Germany companies. 

     

Busy imports to New Zealand from the occupied territory

Two vessels have this week-end been offloading phosphates in New Zealand originating from occupied Western Sahara. Today, one of the ships is offloading the valuable product at the harbour of Northport.

20 June 2010

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

Protest in New Zealand against conflict mineral imports

From the end of this year, 2 of 3 global importers of Western Sahara's controversial conflict minerals are from New Zealand. This week, locals protested in the city of Dunedin.

17 December 2018