#Cattleships – The Ireland-Libya serving livestock-carrier Atlantic M departed Belview, Waterford today and is understood to be bound for the North African state's port of Misrata, writes Jehan Ashmore.
As reported today, a sistership, Express 1 which in February encountered engine-failure in the English Channel and was towed to the Cornish port of Fowey is expected this week to depart.
As previously reported on Afloat.ie, she had been detained by the UK's Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) which carried out last week 'post-repair' trails following repairs and safety inspections, though some issues remained before her pending release.
Both former vehicle-carriers were converted for the transportation of livestock and Express 1 became the first vessel to revive live-animal exports since the trade to Libya ended in 1996 after the banning of beef imports from the EU due to the outbreak of (BSE) mad cow disease.
Altantic M had docked last week to Belview and in recent days had been at anchorage off Dunmore East. Today she heads for the same Libyan port of call to Misrata, where Express 1 had reached on completion of her inaugural voyage last year.
On that occasion, while inbound to Belview to load the cattle, she was renamed during her Irish port of call from Al Mahmoud Express. As for Atlantic M, she was formerly the similar named Al Express Orient.
