To the great displeasure of the Polisario, an OCP phosphate cargo docks in New Zealand

Liberian-flagged ship «Venture Pearl», which carries 55,000 tons of phosphate from OCP subsidiary Phosboucraa, docked Wednesday at Tauranga in New Zealand.

The trip of said ship was behind the Polisario Front’s anger. In fact, the movement’s representative in Australia and New Zealand reacted to the news, alleging that «Venture Pearl»’s staff «purposely disguised its destination during its eight weeks at sea».

These claims were denied by David Glendining, the spokesman of the company importing the OCP cargo Ballance Agri-Nutrients. Speaking to New Zealand newspaper Stuff, Glendining said that he «doubted there was any deliberate attempt to disguise the ship's journey».

«Ballance has not in any way asked for the destination of this or other phosphate shipments to be concealed», he said, adding that «declaring a destination was a requirement of berthing in New Zealand and was published by the port».

The spokesman explained that «buying phosphate mined in Western Sahara by the company Phosboucraa was in full compliance with international, national and local laws and regulations, including UN provisions for trade with non-self-governing territories», Stuff reported.