Concerns grow for animals on broken down livestock carrier
Animal welfare groups are asking the Australian government to probe the livestock carrier, Ocean Outback. The 2010-built vessel broke down on December 29 while departing Western Australia with a cargo of 13,000 livestock bound for Israel.
The ship, owned by Wellard Live Exports and chartered by Otway Livestock Exports, suffered a cylinder malfunction in one of its two engines.
The Ocean Outback returned to port, but its broken engine has seen it unable to depart again.
The contract to send the animals to Israel has since been cancelled, and it remains unclear where the animals will now be sent.
A total of 20 animals have died in the 10 days that the vessel has been berthed back in Fremantle.
Australia’s chief vet has said the government is closely monitoring the situation.
The Ocean Outback‘s problems compound a disastrous few days for shipowner Wellard, with another of its vessels, Ocean Swagman, also in for repairs.