The animal transport vessel Spiridon II remains blocked by the Turkish authorities for two weeks now, due to problems identified in the accompanying documents of the animals. The delay has led to a serious degradation of living conditions, with the ship-owning company reporting that supplies are running out and dozens of animals have already lost their lives.
The Turkish authorities have blocked the animal transport vessel Spiridon II for two weeks now, due to problems identified in the documents of the animals it is carrying. The delay has led to the entrapment of the ship, while the ship-owning company informed that 48 animals have already died and supplies are running out. At the same time, residents of the area report intense unpleasant odors, while animal rights organizations are protesting the situation.
The Spiridon II loaded 2,901 cattle in Uruguay and departed on September 19. According to reports from Turkish media, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry inspected the cargo upon the ship’s arrival, but refused the unloading permit, because approximately 500 animals did not match the accompanying documents. The irregularities caused concern and the ship was not permitted to begin unloading.
Residents near the port of Bandirma in Turkey began complaining about unpleasant odors and the presence of insects, such as flies. The port authorities ordered the ship to move offshore, where it has remained for the last 10 days since its arrival on October 22. The government also announced fumigations in the city to control the insects.
The Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF), along with other organizations, is appealing to the Turkish authorities to immediately approve unloading to prevent further suffering of the animals. “These animals are trapped in desperate conditions,” stated Dr. Maria Boada Saña. “After such a long journey, they are exhausted and in urgent need of care. Every additional day at sea means greater suffering.”
The ship-owning company, according to the Ihlas agency, requested permission for the ship to dock at the quay on November 8 for eight hours, in order to procure hay, feed, and water. There is no official update on what has happened with the dead animals, while activists claim it is likely they have been discarded at sea.
The ship, built in 1973 and converted into an animal transport vessel in 2011, has a capacity of 4,054 dwt, a length of 97 meters, and approximately 4,000 sq.m. of loading space. The ship-owning company is reported to be based in Honduras, while management is conducted from Lebanon. The ship is registered in Togo since 2018.
This is not the first time the ship has been involved in a similar situation. In June 2022, the Spiridon II, loaded with approximately 7,900 bulls and sheep, suffered mechanical failure off the coast of Spain. After drifting unmanned, it was towed to Greece, where the animals were transferred to another ship while both were anchored outside the port.
Animal rights organizations point out that such cases demonstrate why the global export of live animals must stop. Many countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, have already implemented bans. However, Argentina lifted a multi-year ban at the beginning of 2025. Meanwhile, many companies still operating in the trade use older ships, converted and often with poor sanitary and living conditions.
Anyone who has seen such ships up close knows how difficult the conditions are inside them. They are also old ships, which are “mobile bombs” regarding cleanliness and hygiene rules.
