New Report Highlights Systemic Risks in the Global Livestock Transport Fleet
The global livestock transport fleet is outdated, dangerous for animals, crew, and the environment, and experiences problems significantly more often than other categories of cargo ships.
A particularly shocking example of live animal transport: A ship from South America is transporting cattle on deck to the Middle East. The animals have no protection whatsoever from the weather and are completely exposed to the seawater.
A new report we published in collaboration with the French NGO Robin des Bois reveals alarming conditions in the global livestock transport fleet. For the first time, we examined not only ships registered in the EU, but the entire global fleet that transports live animals by sea.
The results paint a clear picture: The vast majority of livestock transport ships in use today are decades-old, converted cargo ships with significant technical and structural defects.
Of the 159 livestock transport ships registered worldwide, 133 were not originally built to transport live animals. Many of these ships are around 45 years old, are cited for technical deficiencies at an above-average rate, and are regularly detained by port authorities. Despite these known risks, tens of millions of live animals continue to be transported on these ships every year.
Global Analysis Rather Than a Regional Perspective
Together with our partner organization, the Zurich Animal Welfare Association, and the French organization Robin des Bois, we have analyzed and documented the international fleet.
Gemeinsam mit unserer Partnerorganisation Tierschutzbund Zürich und der französischen Organisation Robin des Bois haben wir die internationale Flotte analysiert und dokumentiert.
Spiridon II: An Example of Structural Failure
The case of the livestock transport ship Spiridon II—which is currently also being investigated by the Austrian judicial system—illustrates just how dramatic the consequences of this system can be. Last fall, the 53-year-old ship transported nearly 3,000 cattle from Uruguay to Turkey.
Technical problems and months-long delays occurred even before departure. During the crossing, which also took significantly longer than planned, hundreds of animals were forced to give birth to their calves under precarious conditions. After being denied permission to unload, the animals remained on board for weeks—hundreds died.
“The Spiridon II is not a tragic isolated incident, but rather symptomatic of an industry that has for years relied on dilapidated and, in some cases, barely seaworthy ships and views animals merely as cargo,” says our project manager, Maria Boada Saña.
The report shows that such cases are not exceptions but rather a reflection of systemic risks in an industry that is barely regulated.
An Aging Fleet with a High Defect Rate
84 percent of the ships examined were originally conventional merchant ships that were converted into livestock carriers decades after they were built. These converted ships exhibit serious technical defects significantly more often than ships specifically designed for transporting livestock.
“On average, these converted ships are now 45 years old, have already been cited 242 times for technical defects, and have been detained four times by port authorities,” explains Jacky Bonnemains, Executive Director of Robin des Bois.
In 2024, deficiencies were found in 88 percent of all inspections of livestock transport ships. 15.1 percent of the ships were even detained—that is nearly four times more often than the average for other types of ships. As a result, the fleet has been among the riskiest in international maritime transport for years.
“Although these ships transport sentient beings, they have been the world’s most dangerous fleet for six consecutive years. Our report shows that many of these ships should have been taken out of service long ago,” says Boada Saña.
Environmental and labor violations paint a bleaker picture
The problems extend beyond animal welfare. Nearly one-third of the vessels violated international environmental regulations between 2024 and 2025. Due to their advanced age, many do not meet the requirements of the MARPOL Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution.
In addition, violations of international labor standards were found on 60 ships—for example, regarding crew accommodations, working conditions, wages, and social protection.
More than half of the fleet sails under flags listed on the blacklist of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding. Opaque ownership structures and classification societies with varying levels of stringency also make effective oversight difficult.
“The report makes it clear that the problems extend far beyond animal welfare. They equally affect maritime safety, the protection of the marine environment, and the working conditions of crews,” says Bonnemains.
A Systemic Change Is Necessary
Against this backdrop, we urgently call on the governments of countries involved in the live animal trade by ship to take action:
- Introduce stricter standards and close existing legal loopholes
- Protect animals, people, and marine ecosystems
- Ending the export of live animals by ship
As long as international animal transport continues to rely on a fleet consisting predominantly of old, converted cargo ships, serious incidents such as the one involving the “Spiridon II” will remain a systemic risk—for animals, people, and the environment alike.
