A 52-year-old livestock vessel carrying 2,901 cattle from Uruguay has been stranded off the Turkish coast since October 22 after authorities denied permission to unload due to irregularities in ear tag documentation. According to the shipowner, at least 48 animals have died, and feed and water supplies are running critically low.
The Spiridon II remains anchored off the port of Bandırma, Türkiye. The Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF), together with Animal Advocacy and Food Transition, Animals International, and Australian veterinarian Dr Lynn Simpson, have appealed to the Turkish authorities to allow the immediate unloading of the surviving animals.
“After such a long voyage, these cattle are exhausted, dehydrated and in urgent need of care. Every additional day at sea means further suffering,” said Dr Maria Boada Saña, veterinarian at the Animal Welfare Foundation.
Last night, the ship was allowed to enter port to reload with some supplies of fodder, and then promptly sent back out to anchor.
“It is my experience that provisions of fodder, bedding and fresh water are likely to be low or non-existent at this point with an unexpectedly extended voyage. My suspicion is that water supplies will be very low or questionable in quality if made at anchor.”
Simpson told Splash the unfolding “calamity” with the Spiridon 2 is evidence of what she described as a “flawed and failing shipping sector that desperately requires special consideration and greater international regulation”.
“These animals are already on day 53 of a stressful and fatiguing voyage, they need to be unloaded immediately,” Simpson said.
