Zim arms ship flees Durban

2008-04-18 22:26

Durban - A ship that was carrying weapons and ammunition destined for Zimbabwe lifted anchor and sailed from Durban less than an hour after the Durban High Court ordered that its controversial cargo cannot be transported across South Africa to that country.

The An Yue Jiang lifted anchor between 18:00 and 19:00 on Friday evening.

Several sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the ship had set sail from the outer anchorage off the port of Durban.

The ship's master, who earlier this week identified himself as captain Sunaijun, could not be connected by radio phone. Operators in Cape Town reported that calls to the ship were left unanswered.

It was not immediately known where the vessel, owned by Chinese state owned company Cosco Group, was headed.

Nicole Fritz, the director of the Southern African Litigation Centre, said she had been informed that as the sheriff of the Durban High Court approached the vessel, it lifted anchor and began sailing.

She said that if the ship went to Mozambique, the SALC would seek to implement similar legal action as implemented in Durban.

Durban Port Captain Ricky Bhikraj referred all comment to Transnet spokesperson John Dludlu, who could not be reached for comment.

- SAPA