Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Rijnvliet

The vessel Rijnvliet, which has come under scrutiny for its suspected role in transporting arms to Israel, originating from Wilmington, North Carolina, has mysteriously turned off its Automatic Identification System (AIS). The ship is believed to have docked in Haifa on March 16, 2026, with a cargo consisting of bomb and cartridge casings. Initially, Haifa was marked as its destination, but this information was subsequently altered to Limassol. Since March 15, there has been no update on the Rijnvliet's whereabouts, exacerbating concerns regarding its operations. The practice of utilizing 'ghost destinations' to evade scrutiny or bypass regulations is not uncommon, particularly when it comes to arms shipments that may face opposition from nations hesitant to allow such activities into Israel. In a notable development, Hartel Shipping and Chartering, the owner of the Rijnvliet, promptly took its website offline following the release of these allegations. Additionally, the European Legal Support Center has alerted the ship’s insurer, warning them of potential implications for facilitating actions that could be classified as war crimes, despite the absence of current sanctions against such shipments. Under international maritime law, the Netherlands bears a degree of responsibility for the activities conducted by vessels flying its flag. Experts stress the importance of governments in monitoring and preventing arms transfers when there is a credible risk that they might contribute to violations of humanitarian law.