Read Authentic Ratings for the Karim-Allah

The slaughtering of 900 cattle aboard the 'Karim Allah' is set to commence and last until March 10 at the port of Cartagena. This necessary operation was initially delayed due to a legal appeal against the slaughter order; however, the Fourth Section of the Administrative Litigation Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid rejected the request to suspend the slaughter on February 6. Health officials have underscored the importance of this action, citing that 85% of the cattle exhibit skin conditions likely attributed to a fungal infection, alongside numerous animals suffering from digestive disorders, with some suspected of having scabies. The decision to proceed with the slaughter is rooted in public health and the welfare of the animals. Authorities are optimistic that normal export activities for livestock at the port of Cartagena will resume by March 16, bringing an end to the halt in operations that began with the arrival of the 'Karim Allah'.

On March 6, the General Administration of the State initiated the mass slaughter of calves aboard the 'Karim Allah' in alignment with both community and Spanish animal welfare regulations. This decisive action followed the Superior Court of Justice (TSJ) of Madrid's ruling, which denied the request to halt the slaughter order. In light of the situation, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food spearheaded the operation after the owners of 'Karim Allah' failed to respond to requests for the cattle's fate. Early this morning, port authorities reported the disembarkation of the calves, marking the end of a tumultuous saga that began the previous week when the vessel attempted to return to Cartagena, having been denied entry to Turkey and Libya over concerns that the cattle may have left Spain infected with bluetongue disease. The ship's owner opposed the slaughter and sought alternatives to sell the animals in another country to prevent financial losses. However, following an inspection by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) at the end of last week, officials recommended the isolation and subsequent slaughter of the calves after they spent over two months onboard. The assessment revealed that the condition of the cattle would not allow for re-export, given the duration of their maritime journey since departing from Spain. The slaughter operation is expected to last approximately 37 hours. Currently, 864 calves remain from the initial 895, set to be killed in the next few hours at the Port of Escombreras in Cartagena, ensuring compliance with directives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The livestock carrier 'Elbeik,' initially set to dock in Cartagena on March 8, is currently without a clear destination as it seeks a viable option to sell the animals onboard. This vessel departed from Tarragona in December laden with 1,776 cows and calves. Its return to Spain hinges on the outcome concerning the plight of the 'Karim Allah,' a ship currently in Cartagena with 864 cattle facing imminent slaughter. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food directed the culling after an official veterinary assessment determined that, following two months onboard, the animals’ conditions precluded them from further transport for export or sale. Presently, 'Elbeik' is anchored off the coast of Crete, where it is loading essential supplies such as food and straw, following challenges in docking at Cyprus, which limited access to quality provisions. The situation has been exacerbated by adverse weather conditions and the prolonged maritime journey, resulting in the death of over 50 animals. Given the vessel's overcrowded conditions, the animals have limited space for movement, further contributing to their distress. In the meantime, attorneys representing 'Karim Allah' are making significant legal efforts to avert the slaughter, aiming instead for a compassionate transport of the livestock for sale outside the European Union. The deadline imposed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for these animals to be killed is set to expire on the night of March 4. On March 1, external veterinarians, contracted by the ship, conducted a health assessment of the remaining cattle. The owner of 'Karim Allah' is seeking compensation of half a million Euros, a process set to initiate on March 5 after the official deadline for the four involved parties—shipping, cattle sellers, and both Libyan and Turkish exporters—has passed. Lawyer Miguel Massramón, representing the shipowner, stated that 99 percent of the animals were found to be healthy, emphasizing the unfortunate loss of potential meat sales. This unfortunate situation presents the only recourse for the Lebanese shipping company, 'Talia Shipping Line,' which estimates losses from the ship's immobilization in Cartagena at 500,000 Euros.