Civil society organisations in Cyprus have called on the government to prevent the US-flagged vessel Ocean Grand from docking at Limassol port, alleging it carries military equipment destined for Israel.
The vessel is scheduled to arrive at Limassol on 18 July 2025, according to a letter addressed to President Christodoulides, the Deputy Ministry of Shipping and the Cyprus Ports Authority. The organisations claim the ship is transporting “tonnes of explosives, including new howitzer artillery systems and missiles, for use by Israeli forces in the illegal occupation and the ongoing genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza.”
Irish investigative platform The Ditch has reportedly disclosed documents showing the Ocean Grand departed from a US port last month carrying 10.4 tonnes of nitrocellulose and four ROEM 155mm howitzer artillery systems, which the groups describe as “futuristic artillery that will help transform the Israeli army into an advanced war machine.”
The vessel previously used Limassol port in April 2024 whilst reportedly carrying military equipment to Israel, according to the letter. During that voyage, the ship allegedly “turned off its radar to avoid detection” before appearing at tracking websites only after delivering cargo at Israel’s Ashdod port.
“The ship did not appear on tracking websites for days, but eventually appeared in Limassol, having already delivered the weapons to the port of Ashdod (Israel) without being detected,” the organisations stated. “Even then the Ports Authority did not publicise its arrival.”
The letter argues that whilst “Israel is being tried for war crimes, including genocide and occupation of Palestinian territories, the use of our port for transporting weapons systems directly assists in the commission of these crimes.”
The groups cite international legal obligations, stating that Cyprus exercises “full sovereignty under Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)” within its territorial waters. Under the Arms Trade Treaty, “Cyprus is obliged to prevent the transit of weapons from its territory if it has knowledge that they will be used for the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes,” the letter states.
The organisations demand the government “prevent any transfer of weapons systems to Israel” and “ensure that Cypriot ports do not assist and facilitate illegal transfer and that the Ocean Grand as well as similar ships do not pass through Cypriot waters.”
The letter was signed by 14 organisations: Social Alliance, Alliance Against the Far Right, Fascism and Racism, BDS Cyprus, United for Palestine Limassol, United for Palestine Nicosia, Genocide-Free Cyprus, AFOA, Cyprus Movement to Gaza, Far Right Watch CY, the PEO trade union, Cyprus Peace Council, KISA, Ergatiki Dimokratia, and Aristeri Pteriga.
The groups also called on port workers to “refuse to be pushed into complicity and not serve the ship with illegal cargo” and urged customs officials not to process the vessel.
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