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Litany of Disasters
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Cattle Export 'Incidents' Record
Note – AQIS reports on high mortality voyages from 2006 onwards are now publicly available (since Animals Australia challenged the secrecy of the reports under the FOI Act). There are now 38 reports – triggered when a sheep shipment exceeds a death rate of 2%, and when a cattle shipment death rate exceeds 1% for long voyages (10 days or more) or 0.5% for shorter voyages. http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/export/live-animals/livestock/aqis-mortality-investigations
2010
295 Australian cattle died of pneumonia and heat stress on the Ocean Shearer on the first voyage of cattle to Egypt since the suspension in February 2006 )due to revelations by Animals Australia of the cutting of tendons at Bassateen abattoir in Cairo).
2009
March 2009 – 9 dairy cattle died during a voyage to Kuwait due to calving complications and poor quality food on board. Cows are not legally permitted to be exported in their third trimester of pregnancy. 19 full-term calves were born during the voyage (3 still born, 7 euthanased, and 9 disembarked at journey’s end). A further premature calf was born and 3 cows aborted during the voyage.
2008
February 2008 - 15 cattle (0.85%) had to be euthanased due to injuries sustained when the ship ventured into the path of Cyclone Nicholas – Note that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority ‘considers’ the master of the vessel may have chosen vetter options to avoid the cyclone.
December 2008 – 21 cattle dead (1.14%) died on board on the way to Indonesia – likely due to rough seas.
2007
3,500 Australian cattle were caught up in an Israeli agriculture and veterinary workers strike in January. The cattle were delayed, then unloaded into quarantine feedlots, but without standard veterinary health checks. Half were destined for Israeli slaughterhouses, and the rest were to be transported to the Palestinian Territories.
In March 2007 a ship with 1,695 cattle on board traveling from Fremantle (WA) to Jakarta (operated by Halleen Australasian Livestock Traders Pty Ltd) was battered by a cyclone. 68 cattle died (4.01%) during the 8-day voyage.
In May 2007 a small ship made three voyages from Australia to Indonesia and on each voyage cattle died at a rate above the 0.5% reportable level (0.55%, 0.57% and 1.25%) – most due to injury (some ‘did the splits’ or inability to rise due to slippery floors (some for a week!) – many had to be euthanased when they could not rise to be discharged from the vessel. Only after the 3rd voyage were changes made to use bedding to reduce the flooring problems on the vessel.
2006
At least 247 cattle died aboard the MV Maysora on a journey from Portland (Victoria) and Fremantle (WA) to Israel in October/November. A further 495 Australian cattle died in quarantine feedlots in Israel after arrival (Israeli Veterinary Service report), and were buried in pits. Formal AQIS and AMSA investigations were triggered as the on-board cattle death rate was over 3%. The cattle died due to septicaemia (from infected injuries), heat stress and pneumonia (respiratory disease). Only 30 - 40 of the cattle were euthanized – the others were found dead.
2005
Australian cattle offloaded in Israel from the Bader III were held up for some 24 hours in heat at the border crossing with The Palestinian Authority. Local animal advocates documented the distressed animals who had had no food and water during their truck journey and delay at the crossing.
2004
The MV Maysora delayed in Aqaba port in Jordan with 3,300 cattle languishing on board for almost a week whilst importers argued about feedlot space.
2002
99 cattle died on the NV Norvantes en route to Jakarta in February when the ship hit bad weather. The vessel left Darwin carrying 1,169 cattle. (report at www.amsa.gov.au)
The Israeli Government reported that in July, cattle and sheep on the M.V. Maysora arrived from Australia and experienced heat, unloading and transport delays, and were delayed at border-crossings. Some 200 cattle died, most after arrival. Israel temporarily halted all imports of Australian cattle for several weeks until the delays and transport problems were said to be 'resolved'.
The MV Becrux, on its maiden voyage and boasting the ability to provide the highest standard of animal welfare and comfort, carried 1,995 cattle and 60,000 sheep from Portland Victoria to Saudi Arabia in July. 880 cattle and 1,400 sheep died after the vessel met extreme temperatures (45 degrees) and humidity in the Arabian Gulf. The remaining animals were rejected by Saudi officials and had to remain on board until another buyer was found to accept them (in the U.A.E).
2000
Two shipments of cattle to Korea were rejected at their destination when local farmers believed the trade would threaten their local 'Hanwoo' cattle industry. Six cattle were beaten to death while the remainder had to be held in quarantine and on board ship until the Korean Government were able to move them to slaughter.
1999
The 'Temburong', 829 cattle suffocate when power loss causes ventilation failure on the ship during the voyage from Darwin to Irian Jaya in January. The formal report recommended improved management of back-up power sources (www.amsa.gov.au).
Some 800 cattle were loaded onto the 'Kalymnian Express' in December 1999 in Western Australia bound for Indonesia. Over 300 cattle died of injuries, or were destroyed later due to their injuries, when the ship met a cyclone off the north west coast of Western Australia. (report at www.amsa.gov.au)
1998
The 'Anomis' arrived in Malaysia from Geraldtown WA in January with over 2,400 goats and cattle but could not unload due to a financial dispute between the exporter, shipper and importer. The ship was held up for over two weeks and some 283 goats and 154 cattle are reported to have died. No report has yet been provided!
1998
The MV 'Charolais Express' hit heavy weather on route from Bunbury (WA) to Jordan in July. 346 cattle, of the 1,200 loaded, are reported to have died due to inadequate ventilation. Fifty cattle then died in a Jordanian port, and a further 174 were injured or ill and were subsequently rejected by Jordan, then by Yemen, and ultimately disposed of at sea.
1996
1592 cattle drowned when the Guernsey Express sank after taking water on its way to Osaka Japan. No report has yet been provided!
Sheep Export ‘Incidents' Record
Note – AQIS reports on high mortality voyages from 2006 onwards are now publicly available (since Animals Australia challenged the secrecy of the reports under the FOI Act). There are now 38 reports – triggered when a sheep shipment exceeds a death rate of 2%, and when a cattle shipment death rate exceeds 1% for long voyages (10 days or more) or 0.5% for shorter voyages. http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/export/live-animals/livestock/aqis-mortality-investigations
2010
June 2010 – 913 dead sheep (2.5%) due to heat stress and enteritis/salmonellosis on the voyage from Portland/Fremantle to the ME. Note – over 200 sheep died before the sheep even left Australian waters (and Animals Australia has lodged a formal complaint with WA authorities).
July 2010 – 1,914 sheep dead (3.67%) due to heat stress and enteritis/salmonellosis on the voyage from Portland to the ME, and a further 527 sheep dead (2.08%) from the consignment form Adelaide to the ME (on the same shipment). A total of 2,572 sheep (note - a further 131 sheep were found dead, but it was not known which port they loaded) died on this ship.
August 2010 – 1,407 sheep dead (2.04%) due to heat stress during the last week of the voyage to the Persian Gulf from Fremantle.
Note: AQIS has advised again and again that the danger of heat stress during the MR summer means that the space per animal needs to be increased at this time, i.e. the current stocking density tables are inadequate. This has not yet occurred.
2009
August 2009 – 756 sheep dead (2.19% due to heat stress and enteritis/salmonellosis on the voyage to the ME.
November 2009 – 138 sheep died (7.36%) during a live export flight by air to Malaysia. The ventilation on the plane was inadequate and the sheep died due to high temperature, humidity and ammonia levels in the hold of the plane.
2008
Attempted changes to stocking densities on ships were met with legal action brought by live export companies, and no increased space allowances are in place.
2007
During the northern hemisphere summer of 2007 a number of sheep shipments exceeded the ‘reportable’ mortality level (2% for sheep). They were each attributed to a combination of heat stress and/or inanition/salmonellosis complex;
- May 2007, 622 dead sheep (4.16%) in one consignment and 349 dead (2.34%) in a 2nd consignment on the same shipment to Oman
- June 2007, 593 dead sheep (2.15%) on the way to the ME
- July 2007, 653 dead sheep (2.52%) on the way to the ME
- August 2007, 1.923 dead sheep (2.53%) on the way to the ME
- August 2007, 1,251 dead sheep (2.09%) on the way to the ME
- October 2007, 1,142 dead sheep (2.06%) on the way to Saudi Arabia
Note: Despite recommendations from AQIS that space allowances be increased for all future shipments during the ME summer, this did not and has not occurred.
2006
In February 2006 the MV Al Messilah loaded 786 cattle in Portland (Vic.), and then loaded 71,309 sheep in Devonport (Tas.) for the trip to several Middle East countries including Kuwait. Thousands of sheep were rejected at the feedlot prior to loading due to 'pink eye' infections and other problems. Fully laden the staff resources were not sufficient to treat all the cattle (6 died) and sheep that became ill - 1683 (2.36%) of the sheep died - due to heat stress and failure to eat, exacerbated by pink eye and other problems.
July 2006 – 449 sheep (2.17% of the consignment) died of heat stress on a voyage to the Middle East Gulf countries.
The MV Maysora arrived in Eilat Israel in early November and a consignment of sheep was rejected - said to be due to a suspected scabie mouth outbreak in sheep from an earlier voyage on the MV Bader III. Some of the sheep were offloaded in nearby Jordan and others (approximately 40,000) were unexpectedly taken to Egypt and killed during the Eid Al Adha festival. 862 sheep died on the month long voyage (under the reportable death rate).
2005
The MV Maysora was delayed fully laden with 80,000 sheep in Fremantle harbour when engine problems occurred. No animal welfare authorities were alerted.
2003
Saudi Arabia rejects the MV Cormo Express (allegedly on disease grounds) in August, with 57,000 sheep on board. No other country would take the sheep – and it was late October before Eritrea agreed to offload them. 10%, around 6,000 sheep, died during the three month-long voyage. Australia suspended all live export too Saudi Arabia (resumed in mid 2005)
2002
The MV Becrux, on its maiden voyage boasting the ability to provide the highest standard of animal welfare, carried 60,000 sheep and 1,995 cattle from Portland Victoria to Saudi Arabia . 1,400 sheep died along with 880 cattle after the vessel met high temperatures (45 degrees) and humidity in the Arabian Gulf .
2002
In July and August 4 shipments of sheep recorded high death rates during export to the Middle East , and a total of 15,156 sheep died during the voyage and discharge phase. Cormo Express: 1064 sheep died, Corriedale Express: 6119 sheep died, Al Shuwaikh: 5,800 sheep died, and Al Messilah: 2173 sheep died. AMSA/AFFA and AQIS conducting 4 separate inquiries.
At least one ship, the Al Shuwaikh, was allowed to load more sheep in September and leave for the ME before any reports are completed, albeit with an AQIS vet on board. A further 2,304 (3%) sheep died.
1996
67,488 sheep died when fire broke out on board the Uniceb; 8 days elapsed before any rescue attempt was made.
1992
Published figures show increased on-board death rates, rising to almost 3 per cent, the rise being attributed mainly due a large number of ships unloading at more than one Middle East port.
1991
At the end of the Iran/Iraq war, Australian sheep arrived in war-devastated Kuwait and some 30,000 sheep died from heat stroke and dehydration due to poor infrastructure and feedlot facilities.
1991
Published studies show death rates in Middle East feedlots to be, on average, 3 per cent over the 3-week holding period.
1990
One rejected ship, the Mawashi AI Gasseem was forced to stay on the water for 16 weeks before a country would accept its remaining sheep.
1990
The "state of the art" Cormo Express left New Zealand in May 1990 and almost 10,000 sheep died en route to the Middle East due to inadequate ventilation causing heat stroke, pneumonia, other diseases and failure to eat.
1989-90
Many Australian shipments rejected due to claims of scabby mouth and other diseases, by Saudi Arabia . Death rates on board soared to an average of 6% as sheep waited on board ships languishing outside ports or en route to alternative ports.
1985
15,000 sheep die of heat exhaustion on board the Fernanda F.
1984
Ventilation breakdown in the Mukairish Althaleth causes the death of 70 sheep each day.
1983
15,000 sheep die from exposure in Portland feedlots while waiting loading.
1981
635 sheep die in the transfer from the Kahleej Express to the A1 Shuuwaikh.
1981
8,764 sheep perished onboard The Persia from ventilation breakdown.
1980
The total cargo (40,605 sheep) perish in a fire aboard the Farid Fares.
1980
Disease outbreak causes the death of 2,713 sheep on the Kahleej Express.