Cattle Ship Stranded in Port Phillip Bay
A large live cattle ship on its way to China has been stranded in Port Phillip for days after breaking down on the weekend, reports AAP.
The Singapore-flagged Girolando Express left Geelong for Huanghua in China on December 6, but only made it as far as Portarlington.
There are 4245 cattle on board, a spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed.
Geelong Harbour Master Captain Dilip Abraham said there are no animal welfare concerns for the 3500 breeding cattle on board.
“She started developing some steering and engine problems and the pilot decided to anchor her in Port Phillip Bay,” Capt Abraham said.
“Today is the fourth day and they have repaired the engine problem and the steering problem but obviously 3500 cattle eat a lot of fodder so they are going to come back to top up.
Girolando Express will return to Geelong Port on Friday after mechanical repairs were taken out on the vessel - which has been anchored six kilometres off the coast of Port Arlington for the last three days.