Monday, July 13, 2015
A Livestock Carrier. Photo Credit: Stevesmaritime
A cargo ship carrying thousands of livestock was sailing from Somalia to the United Arab Emirates when it encountered high waves and strong winds and sank off the coast of Gulf of Aden.
All animals are perishing and two of the 29 crew still missing.
The more than 30-year-old ship was believed to be carrying more than 3,000 animals. A nearby vessel was able to rescue 29 crewmembers and the search for the missing two seafarers is ongoing.
The cargo was for local businessmen based in Puntland merchants having businesses in the UAE.
Livestock is the mainstay of the Somali economy, contributing 40 percent to the Somali Community Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Every year, Millions of animals are exported through the ports of Berbera in Somaliland and Bossaso in Puntland