Ship of horrors must be banned from operating to stop the deaths of more cattle.
The issue
The horrific deaths of dozens of Tasmanian dairy cows on board a ship from hell.
PETITION UPDATE: THE HORRIFIC DEATHS CONTINUE
MORE CATTLE DIE THIS TIME ON THE SEAROAD MERSEY....
On the 24th January 2017, 10 cattle either died or had to be destroyed on a much larger vessel, the Searoad Mersey after a ‘stock’ trailer tipped, injuring or killing the cattle. The Searoad Mersey was travelling from Stanley to Devonport. It is not thought that these were dairy cattle. It is not thought to be associated with LD shipping.
LES DICK SHIPPING
The ship, the M/V Statesman owned by Les Dick, set sail from Stanley with 208 dairy cattle on board on January 30, 2016 bound for Port Welshpool in Victoria, this despite weather bureau warnings of gale force winds. Reports indicate that Mr Dick's company did not have the required certification for the area in which the ship was operating and nor did the Captain of the ship. Bass Strait is a notoriously treacherous stretch of water, even for much larger vessels than this.
STORY IN THE HOBART MERCURY ON THE 26TH JANUARY 2017 (EDITED VERSION, ARTICLE NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE), WRITTEN BY NICK CLARK
PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE BRZEZINA:
The atrocious deaths of 59 cattle during, and following a voyage across Bass Strait, to Port Welshpool in Victoria.
In brief, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority found that the ship, which has been described by STAC's Suzanne Cass as little more than a floating bathtub with an exposed deck, set sail despite a severe weather bureau warning of gale force winds. The shipper, Les Dick, did not have the required certification required for the area in which the 'ship' was operating. AMSA's report coincides with the completion of a joint Department of Primary Industries, Water and the Environment and RSPCA investigation.
'The Department has completed its investigation and is currently liaising with the Department of Public Prosecutions over the matter', a spokesman (for the responsible Department in Tasmania) said.
Stop Tasmanian Animal Cruelty (StopTAC) spokesperson Suzanne Cass said, 'The Minister described the deaths at the time as 'appalling', but apparently not appalling enough to prevent this illegal, unconscionable shipper from continuing to operate on runs across Bass Strait'.
AMSA also found that the Bureau of Meteorology had issued a gale warning, with a 95% chance of rain and thunderstorms, half an hour before the Statesman left Stanley for Port Welshpool on January 30 at 10.30a.m with 208 cattle on board.
'On arrival at Port Welshpool at around 11.00 am on January 31, 2016 it was found that 8 cattle were dead, and a further 12 were down in distress.
'Victorian veterinary (sic) authorities then arrived at 6.00 pm to find 10 cattle dead. A further 49 cattle were in such a distressed state (that) they should be euthanised. The investigation found the Statesman encountered a squall with estimated 50 knot winds and rogue waves about midnight.
'The impact of the waves knocked 6 cattle off their feet and the master deemed it too dangerous to send the crew out on deck to check on their welfare', AMSA said.
AMSA fined the operator of the M/V Statesman, LD Shipping, $10,600 and the master of the ship $2,160.
StopTAC's Ms Cass believes the fine to be pitiful and an insult to each cow that died as a result of the harrowing journey. 'The only satisfactory outcome would be to ensure this shipper is no longer allowed to operate, and for both Les Dick and his Captain to be proceeded against by the DPP’, said Ms Cass.
'On the best information available, it appears this delinquent shipping company has been allowed to continue using this ship, which is little more than a bathtub. It was always a disaster waiting to happen, and it has been indicated to us that other, much larger ships, chose not to set sail that night', Ms Cass continued.
Ms Cass also questioned why it took so long for Victorian veterinary authorities to attend to the suffering, injured cattle. 'If the ship arrived at Port Welshpool at 11.00am why did it take Victorian veterinary authorities until 6.00p.m to arrive and euthanize 49 cattle?', said Ms Cass. ‘The animals had already been on this dreadful little ship for more than 24 hours before it arrived in Port Welshpool, possibly longer if they had already come from King Island.
'Leaving injured, suffering cattle for 7 hours without any veterinary intervention is simply unconscionable and atrocious. Nothing about this appalling situation can be defended on any level', continued Ms Cass.
'Has Les Dick ceased operating this run? If not why is the government allowing him to continue? Has the captain of the Statesman been sacked and had his Master's certification revoked, or cancelled or is he and Mr Dick still operating despite the damning findings?', Ms Cass continued.
'AMSA formed the view at the time of the incident, that the master operating the vessel did not hold the required certificate of competency for the area that the M/V Statesman was operating in', a spokesman from the Tasmanian responsible department said. A joint investigation into the animal welfare issues raised by the incident is also being undertaken by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and the RSPCA'.
Minister Jeremy Rockliff said last year authorities would investigate every aspect of the trip. However, Stop Tasmanian Animal Cruelty has asked the Minister to release the findings in full, in the public interest.
'Must we submit a Right to Information Request which the Department can, and has sat on for about 18 months in other cases? Why is this shipper being allowed to continue this route using this ship, and its other ship the Go Lesath after this catastrophic event', said Ms Cass.
'Three investigations have been on foot for 12 months, yet it appears it is business as usual for Mr Dick, the facts must get out there then we can follow up with the wider practice', continued Ms Cass.
COURTESY OF THE ABC:
Petition Closed
The issue
The horrific deaths of dozens of Tasmanian dairy cows on board a ship from hell.
PETITION UPDATE: THE HORRIFIC DEATHS CONTINUE
MORE CATTLE DIE THIS TIME ON THE SEAROAD MERSEY....
On the 24th January 2017, 10 cattle either died or had to be destroyed on a much larger vessel, the Searoad Mersey after a ‘stock’ trailer tipped, injuring or killing the cattle. The Searoad Mersey was travelling from Stanley to Devonport. It is not thought that these were dairy cattle. It is not thought to be associated with LD shipping.
LES DICK SHIPPING
The ship, the M/V Statesman owned by Les Dick, set sail from Stanley with 208 dairy cattle on board on January 30, 2016 bound for Port Welshpool in Victoria, this despite weather bureau warnings of gale force winds. Reports indicate that Mr Dick's company did not have the required certification for the area in which the ship was operating and nor did the Captain of the ship. Bass Strait is a notoriously treacherous stretch of water, even for much larger vessels than this.
STORY IN THE HOBART MERCURY ON THE 26TH JANUARY 2017 (EDITED VERSION, ARTICLE NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE), WRITTEN BY NICK CLARK
PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE BRZEZINA:
The atrocious deaths of 59 cattle during, and following a voyage across Bass Strait, to Port Welshpool in Victoria.
In brief, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority found that the ship, which has been described by STAC's Suzanne Cass as little more than a floating bathtub with an exposed deck, set sail despite a severe weather bureau warning of gale force winds. The shipper, Les Dick, did not have the required certification required for the area in which the 'ship' was operating. AMSA's report coincides with the completion of a joint Department of Primary Industries, Water and the Environment and RSPCA investigation.
'The Department has completed its investigation and is currently liaising with the Department of Public Prosecutions over the matter', a spokesman (for the responsible Department in Tasmania) said.
Stop Tasmanian Animal Cruelty (StopTAC) spokesperson Suzanne Cass said, 'The Minister described the deaths at the time as 'appalling', but apparently not appalling enough to prevent this illegal, unconscionable shipper from continuing to operate on runs across Bass Strait'.
AMSA also found that the Bureau of Meteorology had issued a gale warning, with a 95% chance of rain and thunderstorms, half an hour before the Statesman left Stanley for Port Welshpool on January 30 at 10.30a.m with 208 cattle on board.
'On arrival at Port Welshpool at around 11.00 am on January 31, 2016 it was found that 8 cattle were dead, and a further 12 were down in distress.
'Victorian veterinary (sic) authorities then arrived at 6.00 pm to find 10 cattle dead. A further 49 cattle were in such a distressed state (that) they should be euthanised. The investigation found the Statesman encountered a squall with estimated 50 knot winds and rogue waves about midnight.
'The impact of the waves knocked 6 cattle off their feet and the master deemed it too dangerous to send the crew out on deck to check on their welfare', AMSA said.
AMSA fined the operator of the M/V Statesman, LD Shipping, $10,600 and the master of the ship $2,160.
StopTAC's Ms Cass believes the fine to be pitiful and an insult to each cow that died as a result of the harrowing journey. 'The only satisfactory outcome would be to ensure this shipper is no longer allowed to operate, and for both Les Dick and his Captain to be proceeded against by the DPP’, said Ms Cass.
'On the best information available, it appears this delinquent shipping company has been allowed to continue using this ship, which is little more than a bathtub. It was always a disaster waiting to happen, and it has been indicated to us that other, much larger ships, chose not to set sail that night', Ms Cass continued.
Ms Cass also questioned why it took so long for Victorian veterinary authorities to attend to the suffering, injured cattle. 'If the ship arrived at Port Welshpool at 11.00am why did it take Victorian veterinary authorities until 6.00p.m to arrive and euthanize 49 cattle?', said Ms Cass. ‘The animals had already been on this dreadful little ship for more than 24 hours before it arrived in Port Welshpool, possibly longer if they had already come from King Island.
'Leaving injured, suffering cattle for 7 hours without any veterinary intervention is simply unconscionable and atrocious. Nothing about this appalling situation can be defended on any level', continued Ms Cass.
'Has Les Dick ceased operating this run? If not why is the government allowing him to continue? Has the captain of the Statesman been sacked and had his Master's certification revoked, or cancelled or is he and Mr Dick still operating despite the damning findings?', Ms Cass continued.
'AMSA formed the view at the time of the incident, that the master operating the vessel did not hold the required certificate of competency for the area that the M/V Statesman was operating in', a spokesman from the Tasmanian responsible department said. A joint investigation into the animal welfare issues raised by the incident is also being undertaken by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and the RSPCA'.
Minister Jeremy Rockliff said last year authorities would investigate every aspect of the trip. However, Stop Tasmanian Animal Cruelty has asked the Minister to release the findings in full, in the public interest.
'Must we submit a Right to Information Request which the Department can, and has sat on for about 18 months in other cases? Why is this shipper being allowed to continue this route using this ship, and its other ship the Go Lesath after this catastrophic event', said Ms Cass.
'Three investigations have been on foot for 12 months, yet it appears it is business as usual for Mr Dick, the facts must get out there then we can follow up with the wider practice', continued Ms Cass.
COURTESY OF THE ABC:
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Petition created on 15 January 2017