#CATTLE-SHIP -It transpires the livestock-carrier which departed Waterford port just over a week ago is under a different name and is bound for Misrata, and not the Libyan capital Tripoli as reported, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The livestock-carrier's previous name was Al Mahmoud Express (1983/7,087grt) but is now the Express 1, which has revived the live cattle trade, not seen since 1996, when Libya banned beef imports from the EU, following the outbreak of (BSE) mad cow disease.
The Panamanian flagged vessel with 2,900 cattle, is in the Mediterranean Sea between Tunisia and Malta and the passage time from Ireland to Libya is estimated to take up to 10 days.
During the vessels near 48 hour call to Belview, the port of Waterford, animal welfare groups had expressed concerns of the resumption in the trade carried out at the downriver terminal in which they tried to access.
The vessel is no stranger to Irish waters having operated as the custom built vehicle-carrier Autoline.
