The livestock carrier Spiridon II has remained quarantined for 54 days off the coast of Bandırma, Turkey, after departing Uruguay with a full load of cattle. Onboard are approximately 2,853 animals and 20 crew members. Animal-rights groups are calling the situation a “humanitarian and animal welfare crisis.”
The 52-year-old vessel, originally a Russian general cargo ship converted into a livestock carrier in 2011, left Montevideo on 19 September carrying 2,900 heifers, some reportedly pregnant, bound for Turkey. Turkish veterinary authorities refused to allow the animals to disembark due to a dispute over ear-tag documentation, which confirms the animals’ origin and health status.
During the prolonged voyage, at least 48 cattle have died, according to animal-welfare organizations. Footage published by the Animal Welfare Foundation and the Turkish Animal Rescue Movement appears to show carcasses stored in large bags on deck. Additional feed was loaded onto the vessel on 9 November, after which the ship was moved out of port to continue waiting offshore.
Spiridon II sails under the flag of Togo, which is listed on the Paris MoU blacklist for high-risk flags, and is operated by a Honduran company.
Human-rights and maritime-safety groups highlight the vessel’s troubled history:
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since 2009, it has been detained nine times,
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port-state inspections since 2019 have recorded over 150 deficiencies, including issues with labour conditions, pollution prevention, lifesaving appliances, fire safety, navigation safety, and structural integrity,
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most recent inspections found 10 deficiencies in Piraeus (Greece) in August 2024, as well as additional issues in Beirut in October 2024 and July 2025.
Despite its condition, Spiridon II had previously received approval from the EU Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) and transported livestock between EU ports and destinations in North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean until mid-2024. Its current EU status is unclear due to limited transparency.
Reports suggest ongoing negotiations to extend the voyage and reroute the surviving animals to Ukraine, but the situation remains unresolved.
