The controversy over livestock exports from Australia continued last week when livestock carrier Yangtze Harmony (IMO 9336282) was stopped from leaving Fremantle, Western Australia, after it failed an inspection.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) had conducted a pre-loading inspection of the cattle carrier on August 12th and found evidence the vessel’s ventilation fans were not working.
AMSA barred the vessel from loading livestock until repairs were carried out and the ship met required mechanical standards.
The vessel was contracted to Perth, Western Australia-based live exporter Harmony Agriculture and Food Company.
AMSA also confirmed it had ordered modifications to be made to sister ship Yangtze Fortune as the vessel was not suited to voyages of more than 10 days. Yangtze Fortune was already at the centre of an investigation by the Federal Agriculture Department after 33 cattle died on a voyage from Victoria to China in July. She arrived in Darwin, Northern Australia, on August 10th and was inspected. AMSA found drainage holes on livestock decks were not big enough and prevented water draining quickly away from the deck. The ship has been permitted to carry 5,000 cattle on a short, one-off voyage from Darwin to Jakarta.
2005-built, Liberia-flagged, 11,672 gt Yangtze Fortune is owned by Soar Harmony Shipping Ltd care of Accord Ship Management (Dalian) of Dalian, Liaoning, China. It is entered with Swedish Club (Asia Team) on behalf of Soar Harmony Shipping Ltd.