Livestock carriers with 2,400 cattle stranded since December
Anchored off Northern Cyprus since early December with 1,700 cattle onboard is the livestock carrier ELBEIK, according to FleetMon.
It stated: “Similarly, the livestock carrier KARIM ALLAH faces the same situation off the coast of Sardinia with some 700 cattle onboard. The plight of the stranded cattle, similar to situations faced by most seafarers around the world during the onset of the COVID pandemic, has been addressed by animal rights activists around the world, Cyprus in particular.
“The activists desperately seek veterinary support for the animals. The two carriers were originally bound for Libya. The vessels left the Spanish ports of Tarragona and Cartagena on 18 December. Due to an outbreak of the bovine disease bluetongue, they got their entry access denied by multiple ports.
“Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said that the situation on board the ship had “nothing to do with the actions of the Spanish administration”, alleging that the cattle onboard left the desired facility with adequate certification and through checking for all diseases, including bluetongue.”
A spokesperson for the commission said the Spanish authorities were willing to receive both ships back. Spanish officials have been monitoring the location of the vessels for quite some time, and a dialogue will be soon initiated for the repatriation process.
It added: “Cypriot daily Phileleftheros said that the Cypriot authorities are aware of the situation and monitoring the ship if it sails into the Republic of Cyprus’ territorial waters. Meanwhile, Compassion in World Farming, an animal welfare organization, has actively backed the idea of sending vets on board the vessel for close examination.”
