Namibia has revoked the docking permission for the MV Kathrin, a vessel carrying military cargo bound for Israel, local media reported on Wednesday. The decision was made by Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo after discovering the ship’s cargo included RDX hexogen explosives.
Documents from August 24 revealed the dangerous nature of the cargo, leading to the immediate revocation of the vessel’s entry into Namibian waters. This action was taken to ensure safety and adherence to regulations.
The MV Kathrin was scheduled to dock at Walvis Bay on August 25, carrying 60 containers of TNT and eight containers of hexogen explosives. The ship was en route from Haiphong, Vietnam, to Koper, Slovenia.
Namport’s CEO, Andrew Kanime, confirmed the port had received notice for the MV Kathrin but had not yet received the necessary pre-clearance documentation for docking.
Herbert Jauch, chairperson of the Economic Social Justice and Trust, commended Namibia’s decision and criticized the initial response by Namport. He called for international support for Palestinians and emphasized the importance of strong stances against conflicts like the one in Gaza.
