The carcass of a cow floats in waters, about 120 kilometers northwest of Amami Oshima in the East China Sea. Japanese rescuers found a second crew member and multiple dead cows Friday in waters where a livestock ship capsized and sank during stormy weather two days earlier.

Photo: The 10th Regional Japan Coast Guard Headquarters via AP

4/9/20

We have been doing a bit more work into the very recent sinking of the ‘Gulf Livestock 1’ vessel near to Japan.

Our Links:

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/09/03/breaking-3-9-20-livestock-transporter-ship-carrying-43-crew-and-almost-6000-cattle-missing-in-typhoon-off-japan/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/09/03/3-9-20-japan-live-export-news-more-appears-ship-has-sunk-and-1-crewmember-survives/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/09/03/gulf-livestock-1/

Latest news –

Japan’s coast guard rescued a second ‘survivor’ who was unconscious and floating face down in a dinghy on Friday. The man, whose identity was unknown, was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, said Takahiro Yamada, a spokesman for the regional coast guard headquarters.  Mr Yamada also stated that rescuers had spotted dozens of cow carcasses floating in the area.  We know the crew of ‘Gulf Livestock 1’ originally sent a distress signal early Wednesday.

Regarding the vessel before the incident, there are a few interesting issues that have arisen from further investigation:

• The ship is technically managed and crewed by Germany’s Marconsult Schiffarht GMBH – what exactly does the term ‘crewed by’ mean ?  – if crewed by Germany, then why so many Filipino ‘crew’ on the vessel ?
•  A December inspection report from Indonesian authorities on the website of Equasis, which collates ship safety information from both public and private sources, logged issues with the ship’s propulsion and auxiliary machinery. 
• Issues included “deficiencies” with the propulsion main engine and gauges, thermometers.  We understand from the sole survivor of the incident that he told rescuers the ship stalled when an engine stopped, then capsized after being hit by a powerful broadside wave and sank.
•  A 2019 report by the Australian government on the same cattle ship’s transit in June from Australia to Indonesia noted the vessel’s departure was delayed for a week because of “stability and navigation issues identified by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).”

AMSA’s website showed Gulf Livestock 1 was detained by the Australian authorities        for three days in May 2019, because of issues related to its navigation Electronic    Chart Display and Information System. The report cited both a lack of up-to-date    charts and training for officers using the system.

• A report on the website of FleetMon, a German-based maritime tracking site, shows the ship, under its previous name of Rahmeh, anchored off the Turkish coast in September 2018 “to fix a mechanical problem” that required the delivery of spare parts.
• The FleetMon report also noted some concern from local residents about the ship’s extended stay at Cesme port, because livestock on a previous voyage had been found to be infected with anthrax.

Today, 4/9/20, it appears that Maritime New Zealand found no issues with the livestock ship, Gulf Livestock 1, before it left the port of Napier (New Zealand) last month. The ship with 43 crew and nearly 6000 cattle on board sailed from Napier on 14 August bound for China.

Maritime New Zealand said the vessel was checked on arrival and prior to departure from Napier, and no irregularities were found.

The marine regulator said livestock carriers were checked for stability and the conditions of the livestock pens.

At the same time, the animal activist group SAFE is calling for the minister of agriculture Damien O’Connor to be held to account over the sinking of Gulf Livestock 1.

We wonder why ? – So far, O’Connor has declined all media requests on the issues.

Yesterday, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) temporarily suspended consideration of cattle livestock export applications.

Video footage supplied to us today by activist Jane in England shows another issue which English campaigners have been attempting to get official UK authority action on for many years.  It concerns an ex  Soviet battle tank RIVER vessel called the ‘Joline’ which is operated by a Dutchman to take British livestock across the English Channel into Europe for slaughter.  It should be remembered that the Joline is a river use vessel and was not designed for crossing the English Channel as it does now.

UK activists have raised concerns about the use of the Joline as an animal transporter carrier for many years.  At WAV it is thought that as long as it (Joline) does not bury human victims on the sea floor; the vessel and its animal ‘cargo’ will continue to be used.  In our opinion; the authorities do not have the guts to stop it by taking action.

Above – the Joline. Note openess and low level of deck. Trailers are loaded with live animals, Photos: Val Cameron.

Above – the Joline in the English Channel in rough weather. Note loaded livestock transporters on deck.

Here at WAV it is also considered that the New Zealand Minister would never have banned a single animal transport if the accident off Japan had not drowned 43 human animals.  There are just a few basic, simple words for the other 6,000 non human animals that drowned and died such terrible deaths. The ban in NZ now, in which O’Connor has declined all media requests on the issues we mention, has been done solely out of public pressure, and not out of philanthropy, or ensuring the welfare of animals.  Very little is said for the 6,000 sentient beings who lost their lives; only for the 43 human beings carried by the vessel.

This all begs the question, and maybe shows, just how powerful is the animal transport Mafia of the world is, this may be reflected in just how soon we again see the NZ government cave in to the industry demands to resume exports come what may.

We would hope that the relatives and families of the lost crewmen who vanished the other night would show solidarity with us simply because we have a common enemy; the live export mafia.  Sadly, but probably; the shipping industrialists will compensate and comfort them with the fact that their loved ones were ‘victims of a typhon’, that seldom happens, but it can happen.

Very little, or nothing, will be said about the technical defects or as we show above, for June 2019, the vessel’s departure was delayed for a week because of “stability and navigation issues identified by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).”  Most of the crew who perished are Filipino; their families; probably like them, are most likely poorer people who  cannot pay lawyers.

So it looks as if the mafia of the animal transport industry will win again, by banging out a few nice words; making excuses for defects, and as always; simply ignoring the deaths of thousands of animals they are allegedly responsible for.  Words mean little; but actions mean a lot.

We will continue to fight for the paltry injustice served to the animals – the victims of the money grabbing meat makers.  I have done it with many others for the last 30 years; so tomorrow will be no different for me.

Regards Mark

Our Fleet

CREWS have a choice to sail – ANIMALS do NOT.

GULF LIVESTOCK 1, Livestock Carrier – Details and current position – IMO 9262883 MMSI 353947000 – VesselFinder

The Gulf Livestock 1 is a 139m (450ft), Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel built in 2002

The vessel is owned by UAE shipowner Gulf Navigation and prior to conversion in 2012 was a 630 teu boxship.

IMO number	9262883
Vessel Name	GULF LIVESTOCK 1
Ship type	Livestock Carrier
Flag	Panama
Homeport
Gross Tonnage	11947
Summer Deadweight (t)	8372
Length Overall (m)	134
Beam (m)	20
Draught (m)
Year of Built	2002
History: Vessel Name Registered Owner Year GULF LIVESTOCK 1 2019 RAHMEH 2015 CETUS J. Jungerhans 2012 DANA HOLLANDIA Jungerhans 2006 CETUS J. Jungerhans 2002 MAERSK WATERFORD Jungerhans

Further Link::

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12361791

Cargo ship with 43 crew and nearly 6,000 cattle sank off Japan, survivor says | World news | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/03/typhoon-maysak-ship-with-43-crew-and-nearly-6000-cattle-missing-off-japan

A cargo ship carrying 43 crew and nearly 6,000 cattle sank off Japan after reportedly losing an engine in rough seas caused by Typhoon Maysak, a survivor has said.

The Filipino crew member, named as Sareno Edvarodo, a 45-year-old chief officer, was rescued late on Wednesday after Japanese navy P-3C surveillance aircraft spotted him wearing a life vest and waving while bobbing in the water.

Cargo ship with 43 crew and nearly 6,000 cattle sank off Japan, survivor says | World news | The Guardian

Edvarodo, who was in good health, told rescuers the ship capsized before sinking, said Yuichiro Higashi, a spokesman for the Japanese coast guard’s regional headquarters conducting the search.

The Panamanian-registered vessel, called Gulf Livestock 1, sent the distress call from the East China Sea early on Wednesday, to the west of Amami Oshima Island in south-western Japan, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.

According to Edvarodo, the ship lost an engine before it was hit by a wave and capsized, a coastguard spokeswoman said.

Crew were instructed to put on lifejackets as the ship capsized, he said, adding that he had jumped into the water and had not seen any other members of the crew before he was rescued.

The crew comprises 39 Filipinos, two Australians and two New Zealanders, Kyodo news agency said.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) said it was in touch with the families of the two Australians on board.

“The Australian government is providing consular assistance to the families of two Australian crew members on board a cargo vessel reported missing in Japanese waters,” Dfat said.

The cause of the distress was not immediately known, but the weather was rough in the area due to Typhoon Maysak. Strong winds and torrential rain from the typhoon had initially hampered the search operation, but the weather has improved, Higashi said.

The vessel, owned by Gulf Navigation Holding based in the United Arab Emirates, departed Napier in New Zealand on 14 August with 5,867 cattle on board, New Zealand’s foreign ministry told Reuters.

The vessel was en route to the Port of Jingtang in Tangshan, China, with an estimated journey of approximately 17 days, it said.

New Zealand animal rights organisation SAFE said the tragedy demonstrated the risks of the live animal export trade.

“These cows should never have been at sea,” said campaigns manager Marianne Macdonald.

“This is a real crisis, and our thoughts are with the families of the 43 crew who are missing with the ship. But questions remain, including why this trade is allowed to continue.”

Typhoon Maysak had weakened to a tropical storm as it arrived off the east coast of North Korea on Thursday.

North Korean state TV showed flooding along the eastern coast but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

The country is vulnerable to natural disasters due to its poor infrastructure, with flooding in deforested mountains and hills a particular concern.

Earlier on Thursday, the typhoon had caused brought down trees and caused flooding in parts of South Korea, knocking out power to more than 270,000 homes and leaving at least one person dead.

Reports say the Gulf Livestock 1 issued a distress signal at around 1:20 a.m. local time Wednesday (3/9/20) while around 115 miles west of Amami Oshima Island in southwestern Japan. … The ship is reported to be carrying 43 crew members.19 hours ago

Livestock Carrier with 43 Crew Goes Missing Off Japan

The Japanese Coast Guard is searching for a livestock carrier with 43 crew members on board after a distress signal was sent from the vessel on Wednesday.

Reports say the Gulf Livestock 1 issued a distress signal at around 1:20 a.m. local time Wednesday while around 115 miles west of Amami Oshima Island in southwestern Japan.

The ship is reported to be carrying 43 crew members.

The search is being conducted in the general vicinity of Typhoon Maysak, which was last reported to be packing 130 mph winds, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.

The Gulf Livestock 1 was reportedly transporting cattle from Napier, New Zealand to Tangshan, China. The vessel was built in 2002 and registered in Panama. It is owned by Dubai-based Gulf Navigation.

In late July, the Philippine Navy rendered assistance to the Gulf Livestock 1 after it lost propulsion off Balut Island in Southern Philippines. Repairs were eventually completed without incident.

Ship carrying 43 crew and almost 6,000 cattle missing in typhoon off Japan

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/09/03/national/freighter-missing-southwestern-japan/

A ship carrying 43 crew and nearly 6,000 cattle from New Zealand to China has capsized after losing an engine in stormy weather in the East China Sea, the only crew member rescued so far told the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Thursday.

The Gulf Livestock 1 sent a distress call from west of Amami Oshima island Wednesday as Typhoon Maysak headed through the region towards the Korean peninsula, bringing strong winds, heavy seas and drenching rains.

The JCG said it had rescued one crew member, Sareno Edvarodo, a 45-year-old chief officer from the Philippines, on Wednesday night while searching for the ship.

According to Edvarodo, the ship lost an engine before it was hit by a wave and capsized, a coastguard spokeswoman said.

When the ship capsized, crew were instructed to put on life jackets. Edvarodo told the coastguard he jumped into the water and did not see any other crew members before he was rescued.

Pictures provided by the JCG showed a person in a life jacket being hauled from choppy seas in darkness.

Three vessels, five airplanes and two divers had been deployed to continue the search, the coastguard said.

The crew included 39 people from the Philippines, two from New Zealand and two from Australia, it added.

The Philippines government said it was coordinating with Japan’s coastguard as it searched for the missing crew members ahead of another typhoon expected to hit the area.

Typhoon Haishen was already in the northwest Pacific, tracking through the East China Sea towards South Korea.

At least one person was reported killed in South Korea after Typhoon Maysak made landfall Thursday when strong winds shattered a window in the southern city of Busan.

The Gulf Livestock 1 departed Napier in New Zealand on Aug. 14 with a cargo of 5,867 cattle bound for the Port of Jingtang in Tangshan, China. The journey was expected to take about 17 days, New Zealand’s foreign ministry told Reuters.

New Zealand animal rights organization SAFE said the tragedy demonstrated the risks of the live animal export trade.

“These cows should never have been at sea,” said campaigns manager Marianne Macdonald.

“This is a real crisis, and our thoughts are with the families of the 43 crew who are missing with the ship. But questions remain, including why this trade is allowed to continue.”

Last year, New Zealand’s government launched a review of the country’s live export trade, which was worth around NZ$54 million ($37 million) in 2019, after thousands of animals being exported from New Zealand and Australia died in transit.

A conditional ban on the live export of cattle was one of several options being considered, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said.