The livestock carrier in question is the Spiridon II, a Togo-flagged vessel that departed Uruguay on 20 September 2025 with 2,901 cattle, many of them pregnant, destined for Turkey. Upon arrival in Bandırma, Turkey, on 22 October, authorities refused to unload the vessel due to irregular documentation and mismatched ear tags. The ship remained stranded for weeks, then sailed again on 14 November, reportedly to return the cattle to Uruguay, but instead appeared in Benghazi, Libya, on 22 November.
Prolonged Voyage and Denied Entry
- Departed Uruguay on 20 September, bound for Turkey.
- Denied unloading on 22 October due to documentation irregularities, including mismatched ear tags.
- After resupplying in Turkey, the vessel left on 14 November, reportedly heading back to Uruguay.
Animal Welfare Concerns
- At least 58 cattle deaths confirmed in Turkey; activists suspect more, including pregnant cows.
- Onboard veterinarian left in Turkey; feed supplies likely depleted since 9 November.
- Advocacy groups warn of severe suffering among surviving animals.
Environmental Violations
- Allegations of illegal discharge of carcasses and sewage into the sea, breaching MARPOL regulations.
- Observers noted missing white sacks (possibly containing carcasses) and no odour of manure when the vessel reached Libya.
- Sewage accumulated over two months was illegally discharged into the Mediterranean.
- These acts would constitute serious breaches of the MARPOL Convention, which prohibits such disposal at sea.
Animal Welfare Concerns
- Turkish authorities confirmed at least 58 cattle deaths; AWF fears the actual number is much higher.
- Pregnant cows gave birth during the voyage, but many calves were lost or died.
- The ship’s veterinarian disembarked in Turkey, leaving animals without professional care for weeks.
Current Status
- Some cattle were reportedly unloaded in Libya, but the exact number and condition of remaining animals are unclear.
- The vessel has since left Benghazi and turned off its AIS signal again, raising suspicions of evading inspections.
- AWF and other organisations are calling for an IMO investigation and urgent veterinary checks on surviving animals.
The Maritime-Hub Editorial Team
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Maritime-Hub. Readers are advised to research this information before making decisions based on it.
