The sinking of the merchant ship that passed the bridge of the Dura Bulk last Sunday off the coast of El Aaiún, in Western SaharalThe disappearance of this vessel has sent an immediate shockwave to southern Gran Canaria, specifically to the cement plant terminal in El Pajar, owned by Votorantim and Corporación Masaveu. This ship was not simply a passing cargo vessel; it was the main driver of the flow of sand between Ceisa's Canary Island production plant, via Fuerteventura or Las Palmas. Its disappearance from radar leaves a logistical gap that threatens to paralyze cargo shipments scheduled for the first half of March.
On March 19, 2025, Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) tracked a shipment of sand from its arrival in the Canary Islands to the Votorantim facilities. "The cargo trucks traveled 2,5 kilometers to Prebetong Hormigones, a Votorantim subsidiary [or unloading facility specializing in the production of ready-mix concrete]," the organization reported, echoing the sentiments of the Canary Coalition.
From the early hours of Monday, activity at the base in southern Gran Canaria will reflect the administrative strain. The sinking of the veteran Norwegian vessel—the only one with the self-unloading specifications required for the Saharan docks—will force the logistics management to desperately seek a replacement charter in an Atlantic freight market already strained by the Gulf crisis.
The problem for the southern cement plant isn't a lack of product, but rather a lack of specialized transport. The Dura Bulk was a key asset due to its ability to operate independently in the port of El Aaiún without relying on land-based cranes, which are often overloaded or out of service. The loss of this asset means the cement plant will have to resort to larger vessels or those with their own cranes, which will increase the cost of freight per ton and, consequently, the final price of the cement in the Sahara.
If the blockade at the port of El Aaiún continues due to the inspections of the shipwreck, storage facilities in southern Gran Canaria could face problems within days. Clinker production is a continuous process that cannot be easily halted; if ships do not evacuate the material to the African coast, the plant will be forced to slow its grinding rate. Industry sources indicate that urgent contacts are already being made with other shipping companies operating in the Port of La Luz and Las Palmas to try to divert a multipurpose cargo ship to the cement plant's dock.
The day concludes with a focus on underwater research off the Sahara. For the cement company in the south, every day the "Dura Bulk" remains on the seabed without a replacement at the loading dock represents a loss of competitiveness in an African market where Canary Island cement is vital. The "just-in-time" logistics that sustained this maritime bridge have sunk along with the Panamanian vessel, which would force a restructuring of the most active trade route in the San Bartolomé de Tirajana industrial zone.
