It carried thousands of animals but due to the violence of a typhoon it first capsized and then sank off Japanese waters
It carried thousands of cattle but due to the violence of a typhoon it first overturned and then sank off Japanese waters, dragging humans and animals with it. A tragedy is unfolding in these hours in the East. Many victims are feared among the 43 crew members but all the animals on board, about 6 thousand, have died.
It happened yesterday to the Gulf Livestock 1 ship, flying the Panamanian flag. The freighter sent a distress call while west of Amami Oshima Island in southwest Japan as Typhoon Maysak was hitting the area with strong winds and rough seas. This was confirmed by the Japanese Coast Guard who reported that they received a request for help at about 1:45 am on September 2 that was believed to come from Gulf Livestock 1 managed by Gulf Navigation Holding, based in Dubaii. The ship's last known position placed it in the vicinity of the typhoon.
Gulf Livestock 1 left Napier, New Zealand, on August 14, and was bound for Tangshan, China. She reportedly arrived at her destination on September 4.
The Japanese coast guard got underway and managed to rescue a man, Sareno Edvarodo, a 45-year-old chief officer from the Philippines near an empty lifeboat. The crew included 39 Filipinos, 2 New Zealanders and 2 Australians. At the moment, they are all missing except the only survivor.
© Photo Ansa
According to Edvarodo, the ship lost an engine before being hit by a wave and capsized. The man allegedly told the men on board to immediately put on their life jackets before Gulf Livcestock 1 sank, then jumped into the water and saw no one else before he was rescued.
© Photo Ansa
Unfortunately, a massacre is feared. Three ships, five aircraft and two divers have been deployed to continue the search but as the hours pass, the hopes of finding the other 42 sailors are less and less.
The ship built in 2002 in Germany, was converted into a livestock freighter in 2012 and in April 2019 during a voyage from Australia to China, it was renamed Gulf Livestock 1.
All animals died
On board, at the departure, there were 5.867 cattle headed to the port of Jingtang in Tangshan, China. A 17-day journey that for the poor animals ended first in tragedy, confirming the risks associated with the export of live animals, repeatedly complained by associations.
"These cows weren't supposed to be in the sea," said campaign manager Marianne Macdonald. “This is a real crisis, and our thoughts go out to the families of the crew members who are missing. But questions remain, including why this trade should continue. "
Last year, New Zealand launched a review on trade and export of live animals after the deaths of several animals, but the accident at sea shows how much more remains to be done. Now, after the disappearance of Gulf Livestock 1, the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries has made it known that it has temporarily suspended requests for exports of live cattle.
Sources of reference: Japan Today, Maritime-executive, NBCNews
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