Gulf Livestock 1 was a Panamanian-registered livestock carrier which sank 100 nautical miles (185 km) west of Amami Ōshima Island in southwest Japan on 2 September 2020 due to Typhoon Maysak.[1]
Quick Facts History, General characteristics ...
Gulf Livestock 1
Gulf Livestock 1 in 2016, then named Rahmeh |
| History |
|---|
| Name | - Maersk Waterford (2002–2006)
- Dana Hollandia (2006–2012)
- Cetus J. (2012–2015)
- Rahmeh (2015–2019)
- Gulf Livestock 1 (2019–2020)
|
| Owner | Gulf Navigation Holding |
| Builder | Hegemann Rolandwerft, Berne, Germany |
| Laid down | 4 April 2002 |
| Launched | 20 September 2002 |
| Completed | 9 December 2002 |
| In service | 9 December 2002 |
| Out of service | 2 September 2020 |
| Identification | IMO number: 9262883 |
| Fate | Lost at sea with 41 human lives and 5,867 cattle lost; 2 survivors, on 2 September 2020 during Typhoon Maysak |
| General characteristics |
|---|
| Type | |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 133.6 m (438 ft 4 in) |
| Beam | 19.4 m (63 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion | 1x propeller |
| Speed | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Crew | 43 |
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The ship was constructed as a container ship named Maersk Waterford by the Hegemann Roland shipyard in Berne, Germany.[2] Her keel was laid on 4 April 2002, she was launched on 20 September, and was delivered on 9 December.[2] She was renamed Dana Hollandia in 2006, Cetus J. in 2012, and in 2015 was converted to a livestock carrier named Rahmeh.[2] In 2019, she was renamed for the last time to Gulf Livestock 1.[2] She had a gross tonnage of 6,370 GT and a deadweight tonnage of 8,372 DWT.[2] She measured 133.6 metres (438 ft 4 in) long, with a beam of 19.4 metres (63 ft 8 in), and was powered by a single diesel engine that gave her a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).[2]
On her final voyage, Gulf Livestock 1 was carrying a cargo of 5,867 live cattle, and was owned by the UAE-based Gulf Navigation Holding shipping company.[3] The vessel left Napier, New Zealand on 14 August, and was scheduled to arrive in the Port of Jingtang, Tangshan China on 3 September 2020.[4]
The ship sent a distress signal from the East China Sea west of the Japanese island of Amami Ōshima on 2 September 2020 at 1:40 am JST (4:40 pm 1 September UTC).[1][5] The first survivor recovered reported that the ship's sole main propulsion engine failed during rough seas caused by Typhoon Maysak, and the vessel later capsized after being struck by a wave.[3] Before the ship capsized, the 34-year old Filipino ship captain was also able to tell his wife via instant messages that the worsening of the typhoon had caused the ship's engine to fail.[6]
There were 43 crew members on board, 39 from the Philippines, two from New Zealand and two from Australia.[4] The missing Australians were reported to have been an equine veterinarian and a stock handler.[5] One of the New Zealanders was a stock handler and wilderness hunter guide named Lochie Bellerby.
On 2 September, one crew member, a 45-year-old Filipino chief officer, was rescued by the Japanese Coast Guard.[1] On 4 September, a second crew member was found unresponsive in the water by the Coast Guard and died shortly after being rescued.[7] In the same area, several cattle carcasses and a life vest were also recovered.[8] A second survivor, a 30-year-old Filipino deckhand in a life raft, was rescued on the afternoon of 4 September just after 4:00 pm.[7] On 9 September, the Coast Guard suspended the search for survivors.[9] The tragedy led New Zealand to reconsider the exports of livestock by sea.[10]
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