AL KUWAIT

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Stench ship left Cape Town en route to Iraq

The 'Al Kuwait', which was blamed for causing a foul smell engulfing Cape Town, has departed on Feb 21 at 4 a.m. UTC, en route to Umm Qasr with an ETA as of March 5. The NSPCA assessed the cattle on board the livestock vessel and described conditions as "abhorrent", including an "extreme build-up of faeces and urine". In a statement on Feb 20 , the animal welfare organisation - the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - said the cows had been on the ship for more than two weeks with many animals having no option but to rest in dams of their own excrement. The NSPCA discovered diseased and injured cattle during inspections between Feb 18 and Feb 20. Eight had to be euthanised due to their injuries, while others were found dead on board. Report with photos: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68355434

Death ship stopped in Cape Town

The 'Al Kuwait' caused an unbearable stench in the air of Cape Town in the morning of Feb 19, 2024, which was initially thought to be a sewage fault, but turned out to come from the cattle carrier at the Ducan Dock. After checking other potential sewage failures, the City reported that the smell was in fact emanating from a cattle ship that had docked in the harbour in the evening of Feb 18. A team, including a NSPCA Veterinary Consultant, went onboard the ship at 10 p.m., inspecting the welfare of the 19 000 animals onboard. The cattle were bound for Rio Grande to Iraq and stopped in Cape Town to load feed, and was due to leave Cape Town in the evening of Feb 20. The smell was indicative of the awful conditions the animals endured, having already spent 2,5 weeks on board, with a build-up of faeces and ammonia. Several animals were euthanised and some were covered in their own faeces. The NSPCA labelled the Al Kuwait a ”death ship” in its statement, and has reiterated its firm stance against the live export of animals by sea. Reports with photos: https://smilefm.co.za/livestock-death-ship-with-19-000-cattle-onboard-causes-stink-in-city/ https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-20-inside-the-stinking-ship-at-cape-town-harbour-carrying-19000-cattle-to-the-middle-east/ https://bnnbreaking.com/world/south-africa/tragic-end-for-cattle-on-al-kuwait-ship-in-cape-town-a-grim-tale-of-animal-welfare

Bad weather delayed departure again

Stormy weather delayed the 'Al Kuwait' from leaving Fremantle as scheduled on June 17. The vessel finally left the port in the morning of June 18, but has remained anchored off the coast in pos. 32° 11.56' S 115° 41.95' E and will not leave until the weather has improved. On June 16, Animals Australia lost its Federal Court bid to stop the export from happening, while Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie had a similar federal parliament motion rejected.