AUSTRALIA’S largest livestock exporter and ship owner launched the first of two $40 million vessels in Fremantle this week as the company prepares for an expected increase in cattle exports.
Wellard Rural Exports unveiled what it claims is the world’s most technologically advanced livestock vessel, the MV Ocean Swagman, which the company says sets new welfare and safety benchmarks for livestock, vessel and crew.
The ship measures 130 metres long, 24 metres high, and has seven decks capable of carrying its 34 crew at 17 knots.
Australia’s largest cattle exporter and the third largest sheep exporter, Wellard’s new vessel, laden with 5,500 cattle bound for Indonesia, has the capacity to carry 6,000 cattle or 25,000 sheep, or a combination of both.
Indonesia is Australia’s biggest cattle market, largely responsible for the 20 per cent growth in export volume in 2008, increasing by 150,000 to almost 870,000 head of cattle.
The company’s next ship, the MV Ocean Outback, which is also being built by Drydocks World of Singapore, will be launched later this year with both vessels costing close to $90 million each.
In August 2008, Wellard and sister company, Italian-based Siba Ships, announced a $US250 million contract to build an additional two livestock vessels designed to carry 17,000 cattle or 70,000 sheep or a combination of both.
Wellard previously told WA Business News the company exported about 240,000 head of cattle in 2008, an increase of about 30 per cent on the previous year, and expected numbers to grow beyond 300,000 head in 2009, a further 40 per cent increase.
Wellard executive chairman Mauro Balzarini said the new vessel meant Wellard’s MV Ocean Drover (commissioned in 2002 and capable of carrying 18,000 cattle or 75,000 sheep) had now been usurped as the world’s most technologically advanced livestock carrier.
“It is extremely rewarding that the honour remains in the Wellard fleet ... the Ocean Swagman is the next generation in livestock vessel design and construction,” he said.