At least 20 ships trapped in the Suez Canal jam are carrying cattle, causing fears about animal safety on the fourth consecutive day of blocked maritime traffic, according to a report Friday.
The boats headed to the farm (some of which were loaded in Spain and Romania weeks ago) “appear to be trapped at various points in the canal,” a spokesman for the monitoring website, Marine Traffic and other sources, told The Guardian.
“My biggest fear is that animals will run out of food and water and get trapped in boats because they can’t be unloaded anywhere else for paperwork,” said Gerit Weidinger, coordinator of the European Union of International Animals. .
“It’s basically a time bomb with biological danger to the animals, the crew and anyone involved,” he said.
Floating farms have been stranded since the 1,300-foot-long Ever Give collapsed diagonally across the canal near Egypt on Monday.
Approximately 200 ships (including Russian warships, bulk carriers and tankers) are still waiting to be released from the blocked waterway.
Officials said there were no concerns about the immediate welfare of the animals, but Weidinger feared they would die if the trip was delayed much longer.
“Getting on board means there is a risk of starvation, dehydration, injuries, accumulation of debris so that they cannot be stretched and the crew also cannot get rid of dead animal bodies in the [Suez] channel, “he said.
Livestock vessels included the Omega Star and Unimar, which left Spain in mid-March, according to the media, which did not specify what type of animals are on board.
Five of the boats picked up animals in Spain and nine had loaded them in Romania earlier this month, according to the NGO Animals International.
Spanish officials said Thursday they have stopped transporting cattle to areas where access to the canal is essential.
“We can’t tell you anything about these ships, but due to the blockade of the Suez Canal as a result of the landing of the cargo ship, the Spanish administration has given orders that no transport ship be loaded. animals destined for Saudi Arabia and Jordan until the canal can be navigated normally, “said a representative of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture.
Romanian agriculture officials did not return any requests for comment, according to the media