The 34-year-old livestock carrier ship Blue Ocean A, flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, has been detained at the Italian Port of Cagliari after a port state control inspection found
The 34-year-old livestock carrier ship Blue Ocean A, flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, has been detained at the Italian Port of Cagliari after a port state control inspection found 54 irregularities, 30 of which were considered serious.
The vessel nearly ran aground on January 29 off San Pietro Island due to a main engine failure while carrying 33 crew members.
The inspection revealed problems with firefighting and life-saving equipment, bridge systems, crew emergency training, and living and working conditions.
A 2024 investigation by Animal Welfare Foundation and environmental organization Robin des Bois found that the average age of livestock carriers operating in Europe was 42. Over half of the vessels sail under a black-listed flag.
The issue has continued to concern animal welfare organizations, and in December, a coalition of 36 organizations issued a letter to the Secretary-General of the IMO calling for binding international regulations for livestock carriers, warning that the ageing fleet poses serious and escalating risks to human life, animal welfare, public health, and the marine environment.
The call followed the recent case involving the 52-year-old livestock carrier MV Spiridon II. The rejection of around 2,900 dairy cattle
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