Live exports: Maritime officials block shipment of 65,000 sheep to the Middle East

Updated

A scandal-plagued live export ship slated to take 65,000 sheep to the Middle East has failed to satisfy an inspection and must provide evidence of improvements before maritime officials will allow it to set sail with livestock on board. Live export ship Awassi Express, which last year saw 2,000 sheep die on a similar voyage, was stopped by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) yesterday and will not be allowed to sail unless airflow to the animals is improved. An Australian Maritime Safety Authority statement said: ‘Amsa has advised the master and ship operator that they will have to arrange a third party air flow verification report to prove compliance with air flow standards before an Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock can be issued.’

ABC reported Minister Littleproud said: ‘So the line in the sand has to be drawn now. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has launched an extraordinary review of his department after shocking revelations of cruelty to sheep revived calls for Australia's live export trade to end. Littleproud ruled out banning the live export trade but said he was taking other measures, including establishing a whistleblower hotline by the end of the week so people to "call out bad behaviour".
A ship due to carry 65,000 sheep to the Middle East fails an Australian Maritime Safety Authority inspection after docking in Fremantle, Western Australia and is denied permits for the voyage. The government is investigating newly emerged footage of conditions on the ship, where thousands of sheep died during a similar voyage last year.