The US Government-owned Cape Orlando sealift/Ro-Ro vessel has successfully loaded cargo and departed Tacoma Port, Washington, US despite protestors’ attempts to block the ship, which they say carried weapons and military hardware for Israel’s current war on Hamas in Gaza.

Although it is a government-owned vessel used for military transport, the Cape Orlando is civilian-crewed.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Several hundred activists arrived at the Pacific seaport on Monday morning (6 November) to disrupt ship and port operations.

The last available Marine Traffic data shows the Cape Orlando transiting past Oregon, just off the US Pacific coast. The vessel is out of AIS range at the time of publication. Ship Technology was unable to independently verify the ship’s destination port.

A small group of protestors paddled kayaks around the ship in an attempt to continue the blockade on water, monitored by a US Coast Guard patrol vessel.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The protest in Washington state comes days after demonstrators attempted to block the Cape Orlando from leaving the Port of Portland in Oregon, the state directly south of Washington, on Friday (3 November).

The continued US military assistance to Israel is a point of international controversy. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have taken place across the country after the House of Representatives passed a bill to send $14.5bn in military aid to bolster Israel’s air defence and missile systems.

Our signals coverage is powered by GlobalData’s Thematic Engine, which tags millions of data items across six alternative datasets — patents, jobs, deals, company filings, social media mentions and news — to themes, sectors and companies. These signals enhance our predictive capabilities, helping us to identify the most disruptive threats across each of the sectors we cover and the companies best placed to succeed.

Ship Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Ship Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
From automated chartering invoices to EU ETS and CII management, Ankeri Solutions’ maritime SaaS platform has earned three Ship Technology Excellence Awards for 2025. See how Ankeri is helping shipowners and charterers boost efficiency, cut emissions, and collaborate better across complex global fleets.

Discover the Impact