According to the SonntagsBlick newspaper, the “Thorco Basilisk” declared to Turkish port authorities in the Bosphorus on June 30, 2019 that it was carrying in its cargo “weapons cartridges and explosive device detonators”.
The paper cites among its sources a Turkish ship observer, Yoruk Isik, who photographed the ship as it passed through the strait that day and tweeted about its arms cargo. Sonntagsblick says data from the ship’s radar show that it had left Burgas in Bulgaria on June 28 and then travelled through the Suez Canal to Saudi Arabia.
Although the nature of the arms is not “completely clear”, Sonntagsblick cites the “Arms WatchExternal link” blog as reporting that a Serbian arms company delivered thousands of mortar shells to the Saudi army during those days.
Both Turkish expert Isik and Arms Watch investigative journalists believe that the weapons were destined for the conflict in Yemen, the paper says.
The Fribourg-based Massoel group, which owns the ship, told Sonntagsblick that its contract with the chartering company explicitly bans arms transport, and that it has opened an inquiry.
The 27 ships of the Swiss merchant navy belong to private owners, but are overseen by the Swiss government. Sonntagsblick quotes a foreign ministry spokeswoman as saying that while cargo inspections are carried out to ensure environmental and safety standards, “we do not keep any official records on the cargo of Swiss ocean-going vessels”.
The paper also puts this in the context of the merchant navy’s financial difficulties, which it says are costing the taxpayer millions in subsidies.
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Demobilising Swiss merchant navy to cost another CHF100 million
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Eight more ships, from the Massmariner company, are to be sold off, bringing the size of the fleet down to 20. The government has asked parliament to stump up another CHF128.7 millionExternal link to cover the outstanding debts of the ships. Following their sale, losses are expected to amount to CHF100 million. In 2017, parliament…
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Swiss-Saudi talks to take place amid export ban
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Swiss State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Pascale Baeriswyl is to fly to Saudi Arabia for political talks that come amid an export row.
Air defence parts can be returned to Saudi Arabia, says Swiss ministry
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Parts for Saudi Arabia’s air defence systems, which have been repaired in Switzerland, can be re-exported back to the Gulf state.
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Campaigners for a ban on Swiss arms exports have handed in the necessary number of signatures to force a nationwide vote on the issue.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.