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In a long-awaited development, the remaining 16 crew members of the 'Yangtze Fortune' will be flying home on March 22, after facing over five months of abandonment at sea. The Mission to Seafarers has confirmed that the crew will receive back pay for their outstanding wages, which will be covered by the vessel's new owners. Since September 2022, the ship has been anchored off the picturesque coast of Portland in south-west Victoria. Originally intended to deliver cattle to China, the voyage was halted after a significant crack was found in the ship's hull, leading to a legal saga. In December, the Australian Federal Court intervened, declaring that the Chinese owners had effectively abandoned both the ship and its crew due to accumulating debts. While around 20 crew members were able to disembark the vessel in January, the remaining 16 were mandated by Australian regulations to stay onboard to handle emergencies. On March 22, these sailors will travel to Melbourne where they will catch a flight to Manila, marking the end of a challenging chapter. The crew will be replaced by a new team from China, set to arrive courtesy of the ship's current owners. For further details and images, visit the full report here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-21/yangtze-fortune-crew-repatriated-home-abandoned-ship/102125840

On November 16, 2020, the cargo ship 'Yangtze Fortune' departed from Napier, New Zealand, en route to Dafeng, with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) on December 2. The vessel experienced a delay of nearly a week to facilitate necessary repairs after the ship's master identified an issue with the steering gear prior to its arrival in Napier. Fortunately, inspections conducted by Maritime New Zealand found no additional safety concerns. The 'Yangtze Fortune' had previously arrived in Napier from Portland, Australia, and the exporter had sought an Animal Welfare Export Certificate (AWEC) to transport up to 4,750 cattle to China.

The livestock carrier 'Yangtze Harmony' has been prevented from departing Fremantle due to a failed pre-loading inspection conducted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) on August 12, 2018. During the inspection, authorities discovered that the ship's ventilation fans were inoperative, crucial for ensuring the welfare of the livestock on board. As a result, the vessel is barred from loading cattle until necessary repairs are completed and it meets the established mechanical standards. The 'Yangtze Harmony,' contracted to Perth-based Harmony Agriculture and Food Company, has left its director, Steve Meerwald, uncertain about the timeline for repairs. Adding to the scrutiny of live animal transportation, the AMSA has mandated modifications to its sister ship, 'Yangtze Fortune,' as it lacks suitability for voyages exceeding ten days. The 'Yangtze Fortune' is currently under investigation by the Federal Agriculture Department following the unfortunate death of 33 cattle during a voyage from Victoria to China in July. After arriving in Darwin on August 10, AMSA conducted an inspection and found that the drainage holes on the livestock decks were inadequately sized, resulting in water accumulation. Despite these issues, the ship has received approval to transport 5,000 cattle on a short, one-off journey from Darwin to Jakarta. This incident highlights ongoing pressures and challenges faced by live livestock carriers, underscoring the importance of adhering to stringent safety and welfare standards in animal transportation.