The search for survivors of the Gulf Livestock 1 tragedy has been called off, a week after the ship is believed to have sunk during Typhoon Maysak.

A statement from the ship’s owners, Gulf Navigation Holding PJSC, said the search by the Japanese Coastguard was called off at sunset on Wednesday (September 9th), following the incident in the early hours of September 2.

Still missing

The ship was carrying 43 crew members - 39 Filipinos two New Zealanders and two Australians citizens - as well as thousands of cattle for the Chinese dairy farming and breeding programme.

It went missing following a distress call in the early hours of September 2nd during 160km per hour winds. Two crew members, the chief officer and an able seaman (AB) were rescued, and the body of a third crew member was found in a life raft, before a second typhoon, Typhoon Haishem, hampered rescue efforts.

Aerial searches then resumed but were finally called off on Wednesday night.

“The Japanese Coastguard confirm, however, that regular patrols by aircraft and boats will be maintained with any new information immediately passed to the authorities in the Philippines, ” GNH said.

The statement continued: “We thank the Japanese Coastguard for their tireless search and rescue work. All our condolences go out to the family of the seafarer whose body was found by the coastguard and we are deeply saddened that despite all the searches only two survivors have so far been found.

“We hope and pray that others will have somehow survived this tragic incident. Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathy go out to all family members and friends who are waiting at home still hoping for good news, as we all are.

“We cannot forget that livestock, all headed for the dairy farms of China, were lost in this terrible event and can understand the feelings of those that view the loss of this many cattle with deep concern.”

The company said it was committed to a full investigation and hoped that the survivors would be able to give further insight into the events leading up to the ship’s loss.

The vessel, built in 2002, was travelling from Napier, New Zealand to the Chinese Port of Tangshan. It was certified by an international classification society, and was fully insured in respect of liabilities, the company said.

(Writing by Imogen Lillywhite; editing by Daniel Luiz)

imogen.lillywhite@refinitiv.com

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Read our full disclaimer policy here.

© ZAWYA 2020