The livestock ship Spiridon II, which has been at the center of an international animal welfare crisis, has been docked in the Port of Beirut, Lebanon, since November 27.
After unloading around animals in Libya, the ship has not moved for days, and its future remains unclear.
The ship has had one of the longest and most troubling journeys in recent years. Almost 3,000 cows spent 63 days at sea, enduring poor conditions, deaths, and long periods without veterinary care. Nearly half of the animals were pregnant.
After almost a month at sea, Spiridon II arrived in the Turkish port of Bandırma on October 22. Turkish authorities refused to let the animals off the ship.
Because Turkey did not allow unloading, the ship stayed stuck near the coast for weeks. There was no way to remove dead animals or manure. Conditions became worse by the day.
When the vessel finally left Turkey, its Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal was turned off several times. Animal welfare groups believe this may have been when dead animals and waste were thrown into the sea. This would be a violation of international marine rules.
On November 21, the ship reappeared off the coast of Libya. Local sources in Benghazi confirmed that cattle trucks left the port after the ship docked.
Spiridon II in Lebanon
The next day, the Spiridon II left Libya and travelled to Lebanon, where it has remained since November 27.
To understand what might happen next, The Animal Reader spoke with veterinarian Lynn Simpson who has worked on 57 live animal export voyages.
She said the Spiridon II may stay in Lebanon while its owner decides on the next step. The ship sails under the flag of Togo and is managed by a Honduras-based company.
According to Simpson, this could include waiting for a new transport contract or even abandoning the ship if it is too old or too expensive to repair. She noted that the vessel had several mechanical problems before it reached Uruguay, which suggests deeper maintenance and safety issues.
Simpson explained that livestock ships are some of the oldest vessels still in operation. Many of them are over 40 or 50 years old. Most commercial ships usually are retired at around 25 years.
As of 2026, more than a third of the global livestock-carrier fleet will be between 50 and 62 years old. Four ships in this fleet will be in their 60s, which increases the risks for animals, crew members and the environment. These ships are the Alfa Livestock, Lady Maria, Karim Allah, and the Mahmoud A.
Spiridon II could change its name
Simpson also explained that ship operators often change the name of a livestock carrier after a public disaster.
The paint on the ship is changed, and the ship appears under a new name. But the International Maritime Organization (IMO) number stays the same.
She said this happened with several well-known Australian livestock ships, such as Becrux, which became Ocean Drover, Awassi Express, which became Anna Marra, and Cormo Express, which became Merino Express.
Simpson added that livestock ships appear on the International Transport Workers’ Federation abandonment list far more often than other ship types. Some of the vessels included in recent years are Bader 3, Ghena, Zein 1 and Jouri.
Being listed as abandoned means crew members are left without pay, food, or help, and it shows how unstable the industry can be.
She said that because many livestock ships are old, slow and expensive to maintain, the profit margins in this industry can be very small.
When profits drop, some operators may look for illegal ways to increase their earnings. Simpson pointed to international cases where livestock or old cargo ships were used to smuggle drugs.
Recent investigations in South America and Europe have shown that cartels have used livestock vessels to hide large amounts of cocaine on board.
Spiridon II future is unclear
For now, the future of the Spiridon II is unclear. What is clear is that the cows on board suffered through a 63-day journey across Uruguay, Turkey and Libya, with no functioning welfare system in place to protect them.
What happened to the animals who survived in Libya is also unclear. Were the animals slaughtered or used for dairy?
The case raises serious questions about the global live-animal export industry and the ageing ships used to transport animals across long distances.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theanimalreader.com
