Reviews & Ratings for the Spiridon-Ii

Newly released footage from the vessel 'Spiridon II' has raised serious concerns regarding the welfare of animals transported during its ill-fated journey from Uruguay to Turkey in late 2025. The ship carried nearly 3,000 animals, embarking on what evolved into a harrowing four-week voyage, during which numerous cattle succumbed to adverse conditions and approximately 140 calves were born at sea. Upon its arrival in Turkey, the situation escalated dramatically as Turkish authorities denied entry due to inconsistencies in the import documentation, including an alarming count of about 500 animals missing from the legal paperwork. Left stranded offshore for weeks, the cargo remained aboard the Spiridon II. Subsequent video footage recorded shortly after its docking revealed severely weakened animals and unhygienic living conditions, with newborn calves cramped together in distressing circumstances. As the ordeal extended beyond two months at sea, the remaining livestock were finally offloaded in Benghazi. The fallout from this incident continues, with Turkish importers pursuing legal action against an Austrian livestock trader based in Waldviertel. They accuse the trader of negligence, claiming that animals were loaded despite existing knowledge of potential entry denials. However, the trader has denied any wrongdoing. Investigations remain active as authorities seek clarity on the complexities surrounding this troubling maritime incident. Video evidence available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRSnWER9m6Y&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fsplash247.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE.

The ordeal for thousands of calves aboard the livestock carrier 'Spiridon II' has come to a heart-wrenching conclusion as the vessel docked in Beirut on November 27. After departing from Turkey, 'Spiridon II' mysteriously disabled its tracking system near Tunisia, causing it to vanish from radar for three troubling days. It resurfaced heading back towards Benghazi, where it offloaded approximately 2,700 cattle. However, tragically, it is believed that over 340 animals, including many newborn calves, perished during this grueling voyage. The circumstances surrounding the missing calves remain unclear, but sources speculate that their remains may have been discarded in the Mediterranean Sea during the ship's unaccounted period. An Animal Welfare team located a farm in Libya where the cattle were allegedly transferred, yet they faced obstacles accessing the facility due to its high walls and unsafe environment. As the team attempted to investigate, 'Spiridon II' departed once more, once again disabling its tracking system before reappearing in Beirut. Upon arrival, a dedicated team was on standby to evaluate the situation, having experienced previous discrepancies regarding the vessel's reported cargo. They documented the ship’s docking, eager to verify whether any cattle remained on board. Confusingly, no livestock was unloaded in Beirut, and the Uruguayan Agriculture Ministry confirmed that all animals supposedly disembarked earlier. Their eventual fate hangs in the balance, with many likely having succumbed to the inhumane conditions endured during the 66-day maritime ordeal. Nearly 3,000 calves were confined to the ship, living in their waste without adequate food, care, or respite. In many cases, heavily pregnant cows gave birth to calves in squalid conditions, often without support, and several newborns mysteriously went missing. For further insights, documentation with photos and videos can be accessed at the Animal Welfare Foundation's blog: https://www.animal-welfare-foundation.org/blog/spiridon-ii-mindestens-340-tote-tiere-die-ueberlebenden-in-libyen-ausgeladen.

The livestock carrier 'Spiridon II' recently made headlines with its complex travel history. After initially reaching the Strait of Sicily, the vessel was compelled to turn back toward Montevideo. However, it soon redirected its course to Libya, where it docked at the port of Benghazi on November 22. Shortly afterward, on November 24, the ship set sail once again, this time heading for its final destination of Alexandria. Before embarking on this journey, the 'Spiridon II' successfully loaded fodder on November 9 at the port of Bandirma after completing a lengthy 23-day quarantine period. Originally a Russian cargo ship, this vessel underwent a transformation into a livestock carrier in 2011 and is currently operated by the Honduran shipping company JMR Shipping. It's worth noting that the 'Spiridon II' has faced operational challenges, with 17 deficiencies recorded over the past year during three inspections conducted in Greece and Lebanon. Despite these setbacks, it continues its mission to transport livestock across the Mediterranean.

The Animal Welfare Foundation, a prominent German organization dedicated to animal rights, has expressed grave concerns regarding the fate of the remaining cattle aboard the ship 'Spiridon II'. As the vessel prepares for its return journey to Montevideo, scheduled to arrive by December 14, fears grow that the approximately 2,900 cattle may not survive the voyage. These animals have been confined in dire conditions, standing in their own waste for months, leading to alarmingly high ammonia levels, particularly in the lower decks. Approximately half of the cattle are pregnant, raising serious concerns about the likelihood of miscarriages caused by the intense stress they are enduring. Furthermore, the situation for any newborn calves appears particularly bleak, as survival under such adverse conditions seems almost impossible. Compounding the crisis is the absence of essential milking equipment on board and a crew lacking the necessary training to effectively manage the welfare of these animals. Additionally, cows who have lost their calves may soon develop mastitis, a painful and serious condition. After the 'Spiridon II' arrived off the coast of Bandirma in the Sea of Marmara on October 22, 15 companies expressed interest in importing the animals. However, the import applications were denied due to missing items like microchips and ear tags, as well as discrepancies between the actual number of cattle and previously submitted documentation. For more on this troubling situation, please visit the Animal Welfare Foundation's detailed report featuring photographs detailing the conditions aboard the 'Spiridon II'.

The cattle carrier Spiridon II has set sail once more after being stranded off the Turkish coast for an alarming 24 days, raising significant concerns from animal advocacy groups. The vessel, which had been anchored near Bandirma since leaving Montevideo on September 19, finally got underway on the morning of November 15, traveling at a speed of 10 knots and headed back to Montevideo. This distressing delay in transit was due to irregularities in the ship's paperwork, particularly regarding discrepancies in the ear tag documentation required for the transported animals. Tragically, the situation on board has taken a toll, with reports confirming the deaths of 58 cows and the miscarriage of 140 pregnant cows. Observers noted that, while there were 50 newborn calves present, another 90 calves remain unaccounted for, casting doubts on their wellbeing. Local residents have voiced concerns about unpleasant odors emanating from the vessel, highlighting the dire conditions faced by the animals. Animal rights groups, including the Animal Advocacy & Food Transition (AAFT), Animal Welfare Foundation, and Animals International, have urgently called for intervention from the European Union. They are pressing EU authorities to advocate for the humane treatment of these animals, as the ship has been accused of insufficient provisions for food, water, and proper bedding, leading to dehydration, fatigue, and heat stress among the cows. The complexities of international regulations pose challenges, as Turkey's non-membership in the EU means that the Union lacks jurisdictional authority to compel the unloading of the animals. Nevertheless, Dr. Lynn Simpson, an expert in livestock shipping and veterinary care, has joined the advocacy groups in demanding action from the European Commission and the World Organization for Animal Health to push Turkish authorities to allow the immediate unloading of the struggling cattle. For a detailed report along with photographs of this ongoing situation, visit the Animal Welfare Foundation's blog.

The Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) has raised significant concerns about the conditions aboard the livestock carrier 'Spiridon II', which embarked on its journey on September 20, 2023, with a load of 2,901 cattle. Following its arrival in Turkey on October 22, the vessel faced a halt in unloading due to discrepancies found in its documentation, specifically a mismatch between the shipping papers and the identification tags of the animals. Although it was allowed a brief stop to take on extra supplies, the ship departed once again on November 14, destined to return to Montevideo, Uruguay, with an expected arrival date of December 14. The AWF has been closely monitoring the situation and has noted that the vessel has experienced several signal blackouts in recent days. 'Spiridon II' resurfaced off the Tunisian coastline before reaching Benghazi on November 22, where eyewitnesses and satellite imaging revealed the presence of trucks at the ship. Transporters filled with animals were spotted leaving the port area on November 23, but the number of animals that were offloaded remains uncertain, as does the fate of those still onboard. Reports indicate that the veterinarian who was accompanying the livestock left the vessel in Turkey, raising concerns about the adequacy of care for the remaining animals. Additionally, feed that was reportedly loaded in Turkey on November 9 may have run out. Veterinary inspections in Turkey confirmed the death of at least 58 animals, but the AWF suspects the real number may be significantly higher, including potentially pregnant cows due to give birth. The foundation fears that deceased animals have been disposed of improperly, as the ship’s sewage has not been managed appropriately over its two-month journey. Observers also noticed the disappearance of white sacks from the deck when the vessel arrived in Benghazi, raising further suspicions regarding the ship's waste management practices. Reports also indicated the absence of any discernible odors associated with manure or deceased animals. The AWF has adamantly called for urgent action from maritime authorities to ascertain the current status of the animals on board, determine their future destination, and address the reasons behind the recent communication blackouts. In addition, the organization is pushing for an international investigation into the operations of 'Spiridon II' and a thorough medical examination of any surviving animals, along with inquiries regarding potential MARPOL violations. On November 24, 'Spiridon II' made its departure from Benghazi, setting a course for Alexandria, with an expected arrival on November 27, although it had earlier indicated a potential route towards Lebanon. The vessel is managed from Lebanon and possesses ownership tied to a company based in Honduras. For more information and updates, visit the AWF’s report with photos at https://www.animal-welfare-foundation.org/blog/spiridon-ii-entlaedt-tiere-in-der-libyschen-stadt-bengasi.