Gulf Livestock 1 sinking: Still no answers from inquiry a year on
The families of the Aussies still missing after the Gulf Livestock 1 sank a year ago say a proper search could have provided answers.
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The families of those lost at sea when an Australian-commissioned livestock ship sunk off the coast of Japan a year ago are still searching for answers.
And they say no authorities want to take responsibility for the tragedy.
This week marks 12 months since the Panama-registered Gulf Livestock 1, owned by UAE-based company Gulf Navigation Holdings and on a contract voyage for the Melbourne-based Australasian Global Exports with 5800 dairy heifers and 43 crew on board, was lost at sea near Japan’s Amami Oshima Island.
The ship was on its way from Napier in New Zealand to China when it went missing in an area affected by Typhoon Maysak.
A Filipino crewman was the only survivor. He reportedly told authorities the ship stalled and capsized after being hit by a powerful wave. The ship has not been located.
Among those missing are Australians William Mainprize, who was a stockperson on the vessel, and Queensland veterinarian Lukas Orda. Two New Zealanders were also on board.
Lukas Orda’s parents, Ulrich and Sabine Orda from Mt Isa in Queensland, told The Weekly Times this week the search was never “done appropriately” and there had been “no interest from Australia to push for a report” into the tragedy.
Under international protocols, investigations into accidents on the high seas fall to the vessel’s flag state and despite an inquiry being undertaken by Panama with help from the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission no information on what went wrong has been forthcoming.
Dr Orda said they were contacted in March by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and told a preliminary report had been completed. They had since contacted DFAT to find out where it was but had not received a response.
“We were told they could never get the black box because the depth of the sea floor was too great, but in that area it is 600 to 2000 metres deep.” He said the black box of the El Faro (a ship that went down in Hurricane Joaquin in 2015) was found 4800m below the surface.
“Most likely the Gulf Livestock 1is in much shallower water and could be found. It is just no one has any interest in doing a proper search or investigation,” Dr Orda said.
“The (Australian) Government has offered absolutely no help or support.
“We are grateful to the Australian people who supported the GoFundMe page. We hope to get closure and for someone to tell us what happened, but I don’t think our questions will ever be answered.”
After the Japanese coast guard called off its search just days after the tragedy, and with no federal assistance provided for the search, the family and friends of the two missing Australians launched a GoFundMe page, which raised more than $223,000 and went towards reconnaissance aircraft to search selected uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.
While some debris, believed to be from the vessel was found, the group ceased the active search last year.
Harry Morrison, a friend of Mr Mainprize and fundraiser organiser, provided an update via GoFundMe in July and said they hoped “(media) coverage continues to shed light on the negligence that was shown in this incident”.
Sarah Mainprize, older sister of Mr Mainprize, said they understood the Australian and New Zealand governments offered assistance to conduct the initial search for survivors and the ship, but it wasn’t accepted by Japan.
Ms Mainprize said it was “really disappointing” particularly because there was critical information that was brought to light by the survivors after the search had stopped which led “all of us to believe that there was a very good chance that there were other survivors awaiting rescue”.
“This was supported by multiple search and rescue specialists that were assisting us with the private search. Still to this day there are four life rafts unaccounted for which the survivors testified were launched and were not attached to the ship. These rafts do not sink so they are out there somewhere.”
Ms Mainprize said ideally they would have had “assistance securing the black box which would give us further information as to why the ship sailed into the typhoon in the first place”.
In a statement to The Weekly Times, Gulf Navigation Holdings said “the official investigation is still ongoing and we do not feel it is appropriate for us to make any public comments at this time”.
“We have full confidence in the investigation being carried out and (we are) continuing to assist the relevant authorities. We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences for those who have sadly passed in this tragic accident.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not respond to questions from The Weekly Times.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade could not provide an update, on the inquiry but a spokesman said it “provided all consular assistance possible to the families of the missing New Zealand crew members”.
A spokesman for New Zealand’s TAIC said while it occasionally heard from Panama, it could not provide an update because it was “Panama’s investigation”.
Panama’s Maritime Affairs Investigation Department did not respond to The Weekly Times.
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