ST JOHN’S, Antigua CMC — The Antigua and Barbuda authorities said on Thursday they had become aware of allegations that one of the country’s flagged vessels was carrying arms, ammunition, or supplies destined for delivery to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) or private Israeli defence contractors.

In a statement, the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS) named the vessel as the HC Opal (IMO 9377846).

“ADOMS would like to reiterate the policy of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in this respect. In line with the state’s general obligations under international law and in keeping with United Nations (UN) General Assembly Resolution A/RES/Es-10/24 and United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/RES/55/28, the Government of Antigua & Barbuda and Antigua & Barbuda entities shall not facilitate the sale, transfer, and diversion of arms, munitions, and other military equipment to Israel,” it said in the statement.

According to a document being circulated on social media by the group BDS Freedom Justice Equality, the HC Opal is in the Mediterranean, en route to the port of Larnaca, Cyprus.

It said that the vessel, sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, is believed to be carrying at least 23 containers of military supplies, including explosives and rocket parts and fuses, destined for use by Israel in its ongoing genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in the illegally occupied Gaza Strip.

“The law leaves no doubt: flagging a vessel that engages in the illegal transfer of military supplies to Israel as it engages in what the International Court of Justice has defined as plausibly genocide, apartheid and illegal occupation constitutes complicity in these crimes.

“As top experts of the Law of the Sea confirm, if Antigua and Barbuda is not taking action to assert their jurisdiction over the HC Opal, it de facto severs the ‘genuine link’ between the flag state and the vessels it flags, which, according to the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, is the core element that allows Antigua and Barbuda to attribute their flag to a vessel,” the document states.

The BDS said that it is calling on all states involved, in particular Antigua and Barbuda as the flag state, to take action now.

It said that the Caribbean island should “seek cooperation with coastal states to ensure the cargo in question is being stopped before it reaches its end destination.

“If states fail to implement these measures while the live-streamed genocide of rolling massacres and induced starvation inflicted by apartheid Israel on millions of Palestinians in the illegally occupied Gaza Strip has reached unimaginable horror, they themselves should be held accountable for violating international law.”

In its statement, the ADOMS said that the policy of the Antigua and Barbuda government with respect to flagged ships is laid out in its Information Notice 2025-001, which outlines the position of the government “on the carriage of arms and ammunition on board Antigua & Barbuda-flagged vessels, destined for use in conflict zones”.

According to the notice, “It is strictly prohibited for any vessel registered under the Antigua & Barbuda flag to carry arms, ammunition, or other military equipment intended for delivery to, or use in, a conflict zone.

“This prohibition applies regardless of the nature of the voyage or contractual obligations and is in line with the principles of the Government of Antigua & Barbuda.”

It also states that, “Any Antigua & Barbuda flagged vessel found to be in breach of this prohibition is liable to be de-registered under the authority granted by the Merchant Shipping Act 2006. Additional legal action may also be taken, depending on the circumstances of the violation.

“Any Antigua & Barbuda-flagged vessel found to be in breach of this prohibition is liable to be detained at the request of the administration in a foreign port for removal of prohibited cargo, at the owner’s expense,” the notice added.

It said that this policy is in place to “ensure that Antigua & Barbuda-flagged ships are not used in a manner that could contribute to the escalation of armed conflict, violate international sanctions or arms embargoes, or compromise the neutrality and international standing of the Government of Antigua & Barbuda”.

“Participation in the transport of military cargo to active conflict zones poses significant risks to the safety of the crew, the vessel, and maritime security at large. Moreover, it can result in severe reputational damage to the flag state, ship owner and crew,” the notice added.