Brazilian federal prosecutors have filed a suit in Para to remove the oily residues and hull of the Haidar vessel, which sank ten years ago near Vila Do Conde, Brazil's largest port for live cattle shipment.

In a Wednesday statement, Para federal prosecutor recalled that the Haidar wreck resulted in the deaths of 5,000 cows and the spillage of 700,000 liters oily residues.

Prosecutors said that a subsequent spill was reported from the Haidar wreck in 2018. This shows that residues within the hull pose "a constant danger."

Prosecutors warned that there could be 215,000 liters (or more) of fuel, oil, diesel and lubricant inside the ship. They also said new spills may cause "catastrophic pollution of water".

They said that the sunken vessel still contained carcasses and skeletal remnants of cattle drowned between 2015 and 2016.

The prosecutors are seeking compensation of at least 5,000,000 reais (936,873), plus 91,400 for damages to the environment caused by the spill in 2018.

Among the defendants are the DNIT federal infrastructure department, Para's environmental agency SEMAS and the CDP Para Port Authority.

The company did not immediately respond to the lawsuit.

According to data collected by the state, Para, Brazil's largest live cattle exporting state, exported 370,000 head worth $344 millions mainly to Egypt and Morocco in the year up to July.

According to court documents, Beefpacker Minerva was the owner of the cattle transported on the Haidar during 2015. However, it is not named as a defendant.

(source: Reuters)