[ad_1]
Government officials say there was nothing unusual about the loading of a live export ship in Timaru over the weekend, despite claims that thousands of animals were shipped on board in the dark to avoid scrutiny.
The claims come after two animals reportedly jumped from a truck en route to the Ocean Drover cattle transport at PrimePort Timaru on Sunday morning.
One of the animals was photographed on State Highway 1, near downtown, at 3.40 am before both were stopped by police.
Debra Ashton, executive director of the animal rights group Safe, said it was not uncommon for exporters to load cattle onto their boats at night, “possibly to avoid further scrutiny.”
READ MORE:
* Protesters from Timaru against the export of live animals claim they have been abused and threatened
* Protesters picket Timaru when the cattle transport arrives
* Huge cattle ship arrives in Timaru
The incident over the weekend highlighted the problems it could cause, he said.
“It must be a terrifying experience to be transferred to these ships under cover of darkness, but what awaits them in the destination country could be much worse.”
JOHN BISSET / Stuff
The Ocean Drover cattle transport shortly after arriving in Timaru on November 3.
But the Ministry of Primary Industries, which oversees exports of live animals, said that loading thousands of animals can take many hours and that when it happens depends on several factors, including the ship’s arrival time, port availability, and ship logistics. transport.
“In the past, ships loaded during the day and at night due to the thousands of animals that have to be transported and loaded. Today’s shipments are no different, ”said Dr. Chris Rodwell, MPI’s director of animal health and welfare.
“The Ocean Drover began loading on Saturday afternoon during the day and ended on Sunday morning.”
No further specific details were given on the loading times.
According to the shipping website My Ship Tracking, the Ocean Drover arrived in Timaru just before midnight on November 3 and departed shortly after noon on November 8.
LUKE HARPER / Things
Two head of cattle reportedly jumped from a truck en route to the Ocean Drover cattle transport in PrimePort Timaru on Sunday morning. One was later photographed on State Highway 1 near downtown.
The shipment of nearly 8,000 head of cattle is the second to leave New Zealand since Gulf Livestock 1 capsized in a typhoon in the East China Sea on September 2 after leaving Napier two weeks earlier.
Forty-one people, including two New Zealanders, and 6,000 head of cattle died.
Another cattle transport, the Ocean Swagman, arrived in Timaru on Sunday afternoon. The visit of none of the ships is listed on the port’s website.
Ashton said PrimePort Timaru used to leave livestock carriers out of their shipping hours.
“The ports involved with the export of live are clearly trying to minimize their participation in such a cruel trade. Otherwise, they would include the arrival of cattle boats ”.
A spokesperson for the port did not respond to inquiries about the missing listings.
However, the port’s chief executive, Phil Melhopt, previously said Things It was up to the port customers to decide if they wanted their ships to appear in the shipping program.
“If our customers do not want their movements to be on a shipping website, it is entirely their decision, and that is something we will respect.
“But once it’s in the port, it’s very clear what it is.”
