Against all advice, Al Shuwaikh granted exemption

Against the advice of the Asutralian Maritime Safety Authority, our Australian Government, courtesy of Michael McCormack, has  granted an exemption to allow the Al Shuwaikh, a 34yo  live export ship to carry sheep to the Middle East despite the ship failing ventilation requirements.

The new rules prohibiting livestock from being transported on double-decked tiers.came into force on 31 December.  Industry was given plenty of warning and other exporters took out their double tiers....but KLTT are exempt.

And yep, this exemption was granted in the same week as NSPCA has lodged an urgent application to their High Court  to interdict the impending export by sea of live sheep to Kuwait (See: https://nspca.co.za/news/live-export-nspca-launches-urgent-application-to-the-high-court-gerrie-nel-taking-lead/ ). And the NSPCA has Gerrie Nel (think Oscar Pistorius trial) as their advocate.

One wonders what Gerrie Nel would make of the Australian government flouting their own department's advice.........see: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38813552

For a detailed article on the double exemption, see www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/feb/25/michael-mccormack-grants-exemption-to-live-export-ship-that-fails-new-rules

For a detailed article on the South African court application see: https://maritime-executive.com/article/nspca-heads-to-court-over-live-export-to-kuwait