Maersk Shareholders Reject Resolution to Ban Arms Shipping to Israel

At an annual general meeting held on Tuesday, shareholders of Maersk voted against a resolution proposed by activist investors that aimed to prohibit the company from shipping arms to Israel.

Earlier this month, the activist shareholder group Kritiske Aktionærer submitted a proposal to prevent Maersk, the second-largest ocean carrier, from transporting military cargoes to Israel. The motion faced opposition from Maersk’s board, and when it was put to a vote at the annual general meeting, it did not pass.

Maersk has denied any involvement in shipping weapons or ammunition to Israel. In a statement on Tuesday, the company emphasized that its US subsidiary, Maersk Line Ltd. (MLL), has never filed a transportation plan for “classified or sensitive cargo, which includes weapons and ammunition.” MLL is a participant in the US Maritime Security Program (MSP) and operates US-flagged vessels that carry federal cargoes, including military assistance shipments that are vital to US foreign policy.

However, critics of Maersk have differing views on what constitutes “weapons.” The investigative journalism group Danwatch has obtained bills of lading indicating that over a dozen Maersk-owned ships have transported thousands of tonnes of militarily useful goods to Israel since the onset of the Gaza conflict. One bill of lading reportedly shows that MLL shipped seven armor-equipped Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTTs) to Haifa in November 2023. While HEMTTs are classified as cargo vehicles, they meet EU definitions for military equipment, and Israeli forces have utilized armored HEMTTs in Gaza for logistics and prisoner transport.

The tabloid Ekstra Bladet also identified nine bills of lading with HTS code 9306.90 (explosive munitions and parts), four with HTS code 9305.91 (cannon parts), and 31 with HTS code 9306.30 (cartridge components).

In response to these allegations, Maersk stated:

“The transport of cargo on behalf of the US government does not contain weapons or ammunition. These shipments contain military-related equipment and are derived from US policy under the US-Israeli security cooperation program.”

In its statement on Tuesday, Maersk reiterated its denial of transporting weapons to Israel and countered what it described as “misrepresentations” about its business practices.

“The [activist] campaign is spreading inaccurate allegations and has, in some instances, involved assumptions presented as documented facts and what appears to be misleading information through the twisting of publicly available data,” Maersk said. “Unfortunately, we have also experienced vandalism and illegal, aggressive demonstrations on our premises and against our employees. This will not change our position or our business practices, which are guided by international standards.”

The company emphasized that it has a strict policy against shipping weapons or ammunition to active conflict zones and that it complies with all international regulations. “We fully recognize our responsibility as a global logistics provider, and it is our duty to always reinforce internationally agreed responsible business practices—especially when operating in areas of active conflict,” the carrier stated.