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MV Becrux : The Largest Livestock Carrier in the World
Credits: Livestock export truth/YouTube
Livestock carrier is a type of ship which helps in import-export of cattle and sheep. Since countries down under have extensive ranching areas for cattle and other livestock animals, the export of these animals generally occurs from Australia and New Zealand to United States, Canada and various other countries in the world. MV Becrux is the largest livestock carrier in the world.
The brain-child of the Italian shipping conglomerate Siba Ships, which specialises in the operation of livestock carriers, MV Becrux was launched in the year 2002. At that time – and even today – the cattle carrier commands a unique respect of being highly sophisticated ship and a true engineering marvel.
The uniqueness of the cattle class ship stems from the fact that the ship has been specifically customised according to the company needs. Built at the Uljanik Shipyard in Croatia, the live stock carrier boasts of a cargo carrying capacity of 20,000 cattle or alternatively, 60,000 sheep and goats.
Ship Specifications
The cattle ship measures 176.50 metres lengthwise
MV Becrux has a breadth of 31.10 metres with a draft of 8.60 metres
With a DWT (Dead Weight Tonnage) of 13,400 , the ship has a gross tonnage of 29,770 metric tonnes
The ship is registered to the Panamanian port of registry
The ship offers a speed of 24 knots
The ship traverses through the Java and the Red Seas along with passing through the Arabian Gulf to reach its intended destinations. These routes are not easily navigable on account of piracy threats, making the entire cargo carrying of the livestock carrier extremely worthwhile
Cargo Specifications
MV Becrux has a pen area of around 24,000 square metres
There are 779 pens reserved for sheep while 1416 pens are reserved for the cattle
MV Becrux Controversy
The live stock carrier came under the light of controversy on account of death of around 900 cattle right during the vessel’s maiden journey from Australia to Saudi Arabia. Following this incident, a lot of questions were raised about the ventilation aspects in these livestock carriers and the preservation of the lives of the cattle expected to be carried in ship in the days and years to come. Incidentally, the ship was given a complete check with respect to its pens and other facilities for the purpose of cattle transportation before it entered active operational duty.
Present Scenario
At present, there is no ship that rivals the facilities offered by the cattle carrier MV Becrux. The company however is expected to launch two more ships on par with the facilities offered by the cattle ship within a time-span of two years. With a budget of US $ 250 million, these two ships are expected to have a cattle carrying capacity of 18,000 sheep and goats or alternatively, 75,000 cattle.
The launch of these two ships will help revolutionise the cattle class ship industry with better and advanced reinforcements to meet the ever-increasing demands.
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