Australian live export company Wellard has positioned what is claimed to be the world’s largest purpose-designed and -built livestock carrier, the 36,028gt Ocean Shearer, into the Australian trade after the vessel was granted an Interim Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Although delivered by China’s COSCO shipyard last April the 189.3m by 31m vessel has been trading from South America until the Interim Certificate could be obtained.
Completed as a near-sister to Wellard’s previously delivered Ocean Drover, the 16,110dwt Ocean Shearer has been fitted with a stronger ventilation system and a greater fresh water production capacity than the earlier ship.
Built for long voyages, Ocean Shearer has a fuel range of approximately 18,000 miles at 18 knots and can transport 20,000 cattle or 75,000 sheep, or a combination of both, on a single trip depending on individual animal weight. Jim Shaw
