Australian-operated live export ship missing off Japanese coast

The Australian-operated live export ship feared lost off Japan was carrying more than 5800 dairy heifers and 43 crew when it went missing on Wednesday. A vet from Queensland has been named as among two Australians on the vessel.

Gulf Livestock 1 is missing, and is feared lost. Picture: VesselFinder

AN AUSTRALIAN-operated live export ship carrying 5800 cattle is missing and feared lost off the coast of Japan.

The Weekly Times understands the ship, Gulf Livestock 1, was loaded with dairy heifers from New Zealand when it sent a distress signal early yesterday morning. It is believed the shipment was put together by an Australian-based live-export company.

The ship was travelling in an area affected by Typhoon Maysak.

According to the New Zealand Herald, the ship was sailing from Napier to China with two New Zealand crew members on-board when it went missing.

According to vesselfinder.com the ship was expected to arrive at the port of Jintang today.

NHK World Japan reported that the Panamian registered cargo ship issued the distress signal at 1.40am Wednesday Japan time from a ship about 185km west of Amami Oshima in southwest Japan, according to the New Zealand Herald.

It reported that the coast guard has sent out patrol ships to search the area.

Sources told The Weekly Times the ship, built in 2002, was previously operated by a Perth-based livestock carrier and now owned by Middle East interests.

The Weekly Times understands the dairy heifer shipment was put together by Graeme Turner from Melbourne-based Australasian Global Exports.

Mr Turner declined to comment when contacted on Thursday morning.

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