Working Conditions Aboard the Al-Kuwait

The livestock carrier 'Al Kuwait', notorious for the unpleasant odor that plagued Cape Town, set sail on February 21 at 4 a.m. UTC. It is headed to Umm Qasr, anticipating arrival on March 5. The NSPCA (National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) conducted an inspection of the conditions aboard the vessel and reported them to be 'abhorrent'. The situation on board included an alarming accumulation of feces and urine, leaving the cattle in distress. According to the NSPCA, the cows had endured over two weeks at sea with many forced to lie in their own waste. In inspections carried out between February 18 and February 20, the NSPCA uncovered severely diseased and injured animals. Tragically, eight cattle had to be euthanized due to their injuries, while additional fatalities were also recorded on the ship. For more details, including images, visit: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68355434.

Cape Town was engulfed in an unbearable odor on the morning of February 19, 2024, initially attributed to a sewage issue. However, the source was traced back to the 'Al Kuwait,' a cattle carrier docking at the Ducan Dock the previous evening. After ruling out other potential sewage failures, the City confirmed that the stench was indeed from the cattle ship, which carried 19,000 animals set for transport to Iraq via Rio Grande. A thorough inspection led by a Veterinary Consultant from the NSPCA took place onboard at 10 p.m. on February 18, revealing the grim reality of the animals' conditions. The cattle had spent over two and a half weeks aboard, resulting in a buildup of waste and ammonia due to overcrowding. Tragically, several animals had to be euthanized, and many were found in distressing conditions, covered in their own excrement. The NSPCA condemned the 'Al Kuwait' as a "death ship" in a statement, reiterating their opposition to the live export of animals by sea. For the full story and graphic images, visit the following links: [Smile FM](https://smilefm.co.za/livestock-death-ship-with-19-000-cattle-onboard-causes-stink-in-city/), [Daily Maverick](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-20-inside-the-stinking-ship-at-cape-town-harbour-carrying-19000-cattle-to-the-middle-east/), [BNN Breaking](https://bnnbreaking.com/world/south-africa/tragic-end-for-cattle-on-al-kuwait-ship-in-cape-town-a-grim-tale-of-animal-welfare).

The 'Al Kuwait' faced another setback in its scheduled departure from Fremantle due to adverse weather conditions on June 17. After a prolonged wait, the vessel finally set sail in the morning hours of June 18. However, it remains anchored offshore at coordinates 32° 11.56' S and 115° 41.95' E, as the crew awaits an improvement in the weather before proceeding. The situation comes on the heels of Animals Australia's unsuccessful attempt in Federal Court on June 16 to halt the export process, alongside an independent motion from Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie being rejected in federal parliament.