Australians caught on live export ship missing after typhoon in Japan
Опубликованно 06.09.2020 21:20
The Japanese coastguard believes the vessel may have sunk, and has launched a massive search for Gulf Livestock 1, which was carrying 5800 cattle.
The cargo ship went missing after sending a distress signal during Typhoon Maysak while in the East China Sea. The live export ship was in waters west of Amami Oshima Island in south west Japan, according to a report from Japan’s public broadcaster NHK.
The ship was en route to China after departing from Napier in New Zealand last month and was due to arrive in China on today when it hit rough weather and allegedly capsized after a freak wave.
The Japanese coast guard has spent the day conducting a large air and sea search for the vessel or any crew members but so far to no avail.
Late last night, authorities were able to rescue one crew member who shared harrowing details of the moment the ship capsized.
Queensland vet Lukas Orda, who is married with a six-month-old son, has been named by local media as one of the two Australians on board the missing cargo ship.
Mr Orda studied at James Cook University and worked at the Gold Coast Equine Clinic before joining the cattle export ship as a veterinary officer in June.
The vet’s heartbreaking last Facebook post was on June 24, revealing his excitement at the journey ahead.
“And the first 20 day stretch of my trip starts.....” Mr Orda wrote.
It was accompanied by a map showing he was travelling to Yantai, China from Port of Portland in Victoria.
The livestock carrier, which left New Zealand for China on August 14, was expected to arrive in the Chinese port city of Tangshan about 17 days later, New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Lukas Orda has been named as one of those on board the ship.
Lukas Orda.
Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council (ALEC) says it understands the other Australian on-board is a stock handler.
Chief executive Mark Harvey-Sutton told ABC radio they’re waiting “anxiously” for news.
“It is a very close-knit community the live stock industry both here (Australia) and in New Zealand, so everyone is very concerned about the situation and we’re just hoping for the best,” he said.
Lukas’ last Facebook post reveals he was travelling from Port of Portland in Victoria to Yantai, China on June 24. Picture: Facebook
He told Seven News on Thursday, that what we’re seeing is a “tragedy unfolding” and while they’re holding onto hope, “as time passes that hope decreases”.
Mr Harvey-Sutton said it is common for Australians involved in the live stock industry to supply their trades globally.
“It’s a valued skillet and Australians are very good at it, so it’s not uncommon for Australians to be on livestock vessels around the world at any one time.”
He said their jobs are to look after the animals both from a veterinary perspective and general stock handling point of view.
ONE CREW MEMBER RESCUED
One crew member has since been rescued by the Japanese Coast Guard, however the welfare of the rest of those on-board remains unknown, according to a report from RNZ.
The rescued man, identified as Sareno Edvardo, 45, of the Philippines, was hospitalised on the Japanese island of Amami Oshima, The New York Times reports.
Images of his rescue released by the Coast Guard shows Mr Edvardo bobbing in dark waters.
He told rescuers the ship had suffered engine failure during the typhoon, before it capsized after being hit by a freak wave.
“When it was capsizing, an on-board announcement instructed us to wear a life jacket,” Mr. Edvardo said, according to the Coast Guard. “So I wore a life jacket and jumped into the sea.”
A crew member being rescued. Picture: Reuters
He was on-board a live export ship which is missing after a typhoon hit waters south west of Japan. Picture: Reuters
Japan’s coast guard dispatched planes and rescue boats to hunt for the ship when they found the sole survivor late Wednesday.
He was quickly brought to a large vessel, where coast guard personnel with surgical masks and gloves wrapped him with blankets, AFP reports.
“Water,” said the man. “Thank you, thank you very much.” “I am the only one? No other one?” he asked.
Yuichiro Higashi, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, said on Thursday that patrol ships were continuing to search for other crew members.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told news.com.au they were in contact with the families of the Australian crew members on board.
“The Australian Government is providing consular assistance to the families of two Australian crew members on board a cargo vessel reported missing in Japanese waters,” DFAT said in a statement.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
Friends of Mr Orda have since taken to his Facebook page, leaving messages of support for his family, and sending prayers that he is found safe.
“If only we could turn back time and stop you from getting on that boat,” one friend wrote.
“Prayers you are found safe Lucas. The whole of the Gold Coast is praying for you tonight,” another person wrote.
On board the missing vessel are also two New Zealanders, as well as a crew including 39 people from the Philippines and one person from Singapore according to The New Zealand Herald, as well asabout 5800 head of cattle.
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The Gulf Livestock 1 is missing in waters south west of Japan. Picture: Vesselfinder.com
Millions of cattle and sheep are transported by sea every year, a trade that generates hefty profits for meat producers in countries like Australia and New Zealand, The New York Times reports, adding that animal rights advocates say that such journeys are often too long, regulations are not up to scratch and the rules are often flouted.
Gulf Livestock 1 was built in 2002 with its home port in Panama. The 456-foot ship’s registered owner is Rahmeh Compania Naviera SA, a company based in Amman, Jordan, Reuters reported.
SHIP PROBLEMS
This is not the first time the ship has run into problems.
In May 2019, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority identified stability and navigation issues in the Gulf Livestock 1, delaying its departure on a journey from Broome to Indonesia.
However, according to an independent report on the Department of Agriculture’s website, the ship safely completed the journey.
“The observer noted this was a successful voyage where the stockpersons and crew were professional and caring throughout the voyage. The welfare of the cattle was observed to be paramount to all stockpersons, crew and officers,” the report’s conclusion read, adding it was compliant with ASEL requirements.
Livestock carrier goes missing in the East China SeaThe GULF LIVESTOCK 1 has disappeared, probably hit by high waves & strong winds caused by typhoon #MAYSAK, our data shows. The search for the livestock carrier in load began as concern for the safety of 43 crew onboard rises pic.twitter.com/6H3yGOkUqr— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) September 2, 2020
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