A new report released by Animal Welfare Foundation and Robin des Bois highlights the poor condition of livestock carriers operating in Europe.
The average age of the 78 EU-approved vessels is 41 years with 16 being 50+ years old. Only five were purpose-built for livestock. The average age at the time of conversion for the remaining 67 ships was 29 years, an age when most ships involved in other commercial trades are scrapped.
Age is a key risk factor for ship safety, and 28 of the ships have reportedly suffered major incidents including engine failure, fire and loss of stability.
In the past two years (or in the last 2 years of their trading life), 2,504 deficiencies were reported by port authorities. Two thirds of the 78 had deficiencies relating to Certificates and Documentation, Safety of Navigation, Fire Safety, Maritime Labour Convention, Life-saving Equipment, Working-Living Conditions or Pollution Prevention.
More than half had deficiencies related to Water/Weathertight Conditions, Propulsion and Auxiliary Machinery, Emergency Systems, Radio Communications, Structural Conditions and Ship Management.
It is telling that 55% of these ships sail under flags from risk and high-risk countries, according to the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control.
Live export is always tragic for the animals involved and where animal welfare issues exist, so do human issues - these crews also risk tragedy.
https://www.animal-welfare-foundation.org/files/downloads/78_EU_livestock_carriers_June_2021_RobindesBois_AWF_TSB-1.pdf

In 2008, "Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd ("Emanuel") and its directors were charged with cruelty to the sheep in that the way in which they were transported, and confined, was likely to cause the sheep unnecessary harm." The magistrate report stated "In summary, whilst the elements of the offence of cruelty to sheep, in the way of transport were proven, the AWA is invalid, that is inoperative, to the extent of its inconsistency with Commonwealth law due to operational inconsistency. On that basis the Accused are acquitted."
Fast forward to June 2021: a decision has just been handed down in the Magistrates Court of Western Australia that WA's Animal Welfare Act is not inconsistent with Commonwealth laws in relation to live animal exports. The decision was handed down in the ongoing Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development prosecution of Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd. The decision supports the State Government's position that WA's animal welfare laws can be applied to live animal exports without necessarily conflicting with Commonwealth law.

See: https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2021/06/Court-decision-in-animal-welfare-case-welcomed.aspx
See: 2008 Magistrates Reasons for Decision

North Australian Cattle Company (NACC) has gone into voluntary administration.
The ABC reports the company was founded in 1980 and was run by Elders for nearly three decades until its sale to a Chinese-Australian buyer in 2017. Interestingly, Elders reported a loss of $2.9m from its Live Export businesses in the 6 months to 30 March 2016 and they were quoted as saying "margin performance in the long haul business has continued to be poor and we believe that margins are unlikely to recover in the near to medium term.”
A market analyst is quoted in the article as saying that NACC could go through this and re-emerge. Surely 2 lots of business failings would be evidence enough that this live export is not good for business or animal welfare.
However, VALE's biggest concerns are the welfare of NACC cattle awaiting processing in Vietnam. No matter what exporter is involved, there are always welfare concerns about the cattle shipped to and processed in Vietnam with repeated reports of cruelty including  use of sledgehammers, the practice of 'flooding', cattle unstunned prior to slaughter, cattle deliberately taken out of approved supply chains to an unknown fate…
It’s time for all of the live exporters to stop making Australia party to this cruelty. If it takes receivership to force the change, so be it.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2021-06-02/live-export-company-nacc-voluntary-administration/100184262

Vessel Tracker reports that 43 of 512 cattle aboard the 'LSS Success' have died during the voyage from East London (South Africa) to Port Louis (Mauritius), where it arrived on April 29, 2021. 8.4% mortality. The bodies of the dead animals were thrown into the sea during the voyage so no reports or necropsies available to assess the cause. Just another live ex disaster with no answers....

And the ship? Well according to Vessel Tracker, it has an interesting history also. Customs and drug enforcement officers reportedly found drugs on board of the 'LSS Success' on June 13, 2020 in Port Louis. 39 kilos of cannabis were found, including two kg of resin and one kg of paste. Five crew members were arrested, including four Indians and one Tanzanian. The ship had arrived on June 13 from Cape Town (in Stage 5 Covid lockdown) and Luanda.

Drug smuggling. High mortality voyages. All in a day's work!

See: https://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Lss-Success-6927092.html

Uruguay, reportedly sees the exit of NZ as an opportunity to increase shipments of dairy and beef breeding stock to China. This despite the fact that they have a steadily expanding global meat market without attracting the risks (to producers and the animals).

Uruguay believe they can manage animal welfare risks when a country like New Zealand, with a very high welfare reputation cannot. Not only that but apparently, Uruguay can ensure that live ex ships dont sink where NZ couldn't. In reference to the sinking of Gulf Livestock 1, Agriculture Minister Carlos Maria Uriarte apparently asserted “We need to take all the necessary precautions and be zealous about the welfare of the animals involved in this activity so these types of accidents don’t happen.”