Galloway-Express Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On March 13, 2018, a tragic incident unfolded aboard the 'Galloway Express,' a vessel chartered by Harmony Agriculture, as a crew member, suspected to be from the Philippines, went missing while navigating towards Townsville in northern Queensland. The disappearance has raised serious concerns regarding potential foul play, leading to an ongoing investigation. Alarmingly, the crew member's family was not informed of the situation for several days, further complicating their distress. Following the family’s report, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITWF) initiated inquiries into the case. However, the ITWF delegation expressed frustration over the delayed access to the vessel in Townsville, which hampered their investigative efforts. They have since urged the Australian Federal Police to step in, suggesting that Queensland police may lack the proper jurisdiction to pursue this matter concerning the Singapore-flagged vessel. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was made aware of the man overboard situation when the ship’s master reported it on March 14, stating that the incident occurred while the ship was traversing the Flores Sea, north of Timor, and outside Australian territorial waters. A search conducted by local authorities yielded no results, resulting in the suspension of search efforts. Ultimately, the 'Galloway Express' docked at the Port of Townsville on March 20, where officials from Queensland police and Australian Border Force (ABF) attended to the ship. The ABF performed standard 'first port boarding' checks and assisted in searching the vessel in coordination with local police. In addition to their duties, AMSA planned to visit the ship for an unrelated livestock pre-loading inspection and to ensure the well-being of the crew.

The Galloway Express, the final vessel for live cattle exports in 2015, is set to depart from Darwin for Indonesia later today, marking the conclusion of a pivotal year for the industry. Chartered by the North Australian Cattle Company (NACC), this ship carries 4,100 head of cattle on its journey to Jakarta. NACC manager, Patrick Underwood, confirmed that this shipment will utilize the last of the import permits for Indonesia. ‘These will be going into Jakarta, on the Galloway,’ Underwood stated. The voyage, expected to take about four days, will see the cattle arrive by December 28, ensuring compliance with Indonesia's rule that all 2015 cattle must be in the country by year's end. Throughout 2015, over 470,000 head of cattle were exported from Darwin, contributing to record prices of $3.50 per kilogram. With the final loading, the Galloway Express is poised to conclude a successful year of live cattle exports.

COSCO (Guangdong) Shipyard Co., Ltd, a key subsidiary of the COSCO Shipyard Group Co., Ltd, which is 51% owned by the parent company, has proudly announced the delivery of the 'Galloway Express,' a state-of-the-art livestock carrier, to a European buyer. This significant transaction was formalized with the signing of delivery documents between COSCO Guangdong and the client in recent days. The newly delivered vessel boasts impressive dimensions, measuring 134.80 meters in overall length, 19.60 meters in width, and 9.6 meters in depth, reflecting the shipyard's commitment to quality and innovation in maritime transport solutions.