The livestock carrier Spiridon II has unloaded nearly 3,000 cattle in Benghazi, Libya, after being stranded off the Turkish coast for over a month. The ship, which departed from Uruguay, faced dire conditions during its voyage, leading to the death of numerous animals. The Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) raised concerns about the legal disposal of deceased animals and waste, which cannot be dumped in the Mediterranean due to MARPOL regulations.
During its time at sea, the vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) was turned off multiple times, raising alarms regarding the welfare of the remaining animals. Reports indicate that by November 23, the white sacks likely containing carcasses had disappeared from the deck. Maria Boada Saña from AWF described the situation as a severe breach of animal welfare and called for an immediate international investigation into the incident.
The timeline of events reveals that the Spiridon II departed Uruguay on September 20, 2025, but faced inspection issues upon arrival in Turkey, leading to its prolonged detention. Following its eventual docking in Benghazi on November 22, the ship departed again with an unclear status regarding the remaining livestock. The AWF continues to advocate for the health assessment of all surviving animals and accountability for potential MARPOL violations.
