The livestock carrier, Queen Hind, carrying 14,600 sheep, capsized on Sunday after leaving the Black Sea port of Midia, near the south-eastern Romanian city of Constanta. The crew escaped safely. It is unclear how many of the sheep aboard were killed. As of Sunday, 32 sheep were reported to be rescued, with thousands believed still trapped inside the hull.
The ship, which left Midia at about 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT), was heading to the Saudi port of Jeddah with its cargo.
The ship, flying the flag of Palau, is a converted car carrier built-in 1980. Based on the IMO identification number, the ship was originally Sea Coquette and later operated as Nanima, Nagasaki Maru and Asaka Maru.
While the cause of the accident is not currently known, both livestock carriers and car carriers have a record of issues with stability. In September, the car carrier Golden Ray capsized shortly after departing Brunswick, Georgia.
Last year in December, the livestock carrier MV Jawan came close to capsizing in Portland, in Victoria, Australia. The ship developed a rolling motion suggesting that the ship was unstable. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) subsequently revoked the Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock (ACCL) for the ship because the approved stability data could not be relied upon when the vessel was loaded.
In 2015, the livestock carrier Haidar, loaded with 5,000 cattle, capsized while berthed at Barcarena, Para, Brazil.
The most tragic livestock carrier casualty was the Danny F II, which capsized and sank off Lebanon in 2009. Like Queen Hind, Danny F II was also a converted car carrier. Of the 83 people aboard, 44 were lost. 10,224 sheep and 17,932 cattle also died when the ship sank.
Queen Hind: Rescuers race to save 14,000 sheep on capsized cargo ship
Thanks to Alaric Bond for contributing to this post.
That’s a shame, I love spring lamb, straight, no mint jelly needed.
Been eating it since I was a kid.
If it is anything like hauling cattle on a tractor trailer. A whiff of a mowed field or a fresh pond can be very disturbing. Feeling the load shift on a truck is very real. If that boat had a similar problem, 14000 sheep could have easily tipped the boat.
Over 14,000 sheep drowned or died from other factors. I hope that if anyone is found guilty of mismanagement of the ship e.g. with ballasting, they are also prosecuted for animal cruelty.
So UK where’s the anger, where’s the rage! Our pathetic media obviously doesn’t think this is a newsworthy story. Out of sight out of mind just like the live animal export being shipped every week from Kent. If Phil’s comment was an attempt at black humour he needs to look for other forms of entertainment. Perhaps then he won’t appear so crass.