LONDON (Reuters) - A Chinese-owned ship carrying a cache of weapons originally destined for Zimbabwe has only unloaded construction equipment in Angola and not its consignment of arms, transport unions said on Tuesday.

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), which has been tracking the ship's movements for weeks, said fellow trade unions in Luanda reported the An Yue Jiang unloading only cement and construction material.

"No attempt was made to offload any armaments and the ship sailed after taking on fuel and food," the ITF said in a statement.

"Trade unionists, including from the port workers' union, maintained a watch on the ship and what came off and went on it throughout its stay in port. The police were also present," the ITF said.