METEOROLOGY 2

CASE STUDY
GULF LIVESTOCK 1 INCIDENT

SUBMITTED BY:
MIDN. LANDERO, ROBER JOHN C.
MT31 – B2
SUBMITTED TO:
2/O CAJURAO
INTRODUCTION

In common understanding, by capsizing, people generally mean a sudden passing of a

ship from the upright position to the upside – down position. More precisely, capsizing or loss

of stability can be defined as exceeding the amplitude of rolling or a heel at which operating or

handling a ship is impossible for various reasons. A ship can capsize because of the variation

of the metacentric height (GM), or of the righting arms (GZ), in head or following seas or due

to the loss of control in severe following or quartering seas. Nonetheless, a ship can capsize

even in port if the metacentric height is negative.

Dealing with the incident of MV Gulf Livestock 1, it capsized and it brought a serious

damage and loss of many lives (including animals – cows) and are still missing but there are

some who were reportedly dead. So, what may have caused the incident? As based from

capsizing, a ship can only capsize if its metacentric height (GM) is negative. And for sure the

lead cause of this capsizing was the strong winds or cyclone that was approached by the ship.

According to Maritime Bulletin, the said cyclone was Typhoon Maysak which hits to

Korean waters. So, it was very obvious at this point that the typhoon brought the major causes

to the capsizing of MV Gulf Livestock 1.

Right now, the said incident is still fresh to the eyes and views of many. The main factor

here is on how all of those crew will be found. Simultaneous reports were given that 39 of them

were Filipinos and the rest are foreigners.

The company of the crew is taking up all responsibilities and are taking up actions in

helping to find their crewmen. Meanwhile, lots of animal activists are also fighting for animal

rights in regards of trading them through the process of shipping through livestock vessels.

Animal lives are also important. People are demanding for more progress in terms of trading

livestock animals.
SITUATION OF GULF LIVESTOCK 1

The said vessel was carrying 5,867 cattle and 43 crew capsized off Japan by Category

4 storm Typhoon Maysak which battered the region with winds up to 160 kilometers per hour

that causes many lives from the ship. Before the incident, she already sent a distressed call that

she’s in need of help. Only few crewmembers were only found and both the rescuers and

company are still in search for the others. MV Gulf Livestock 1 was in good condition even

before the incident. The vessel has passed all surveys and inspections in regards of its

operations and also to its safety precautions but was still damaged due to the bad weather and

some of her affected complications.

CAUSE OF INCIDENT

Aside from being damaged from a severe typhoon, MV Gulf Livestock 1 also

experienced complications on its own. First, the officers were already aware that there’s a

severe typhoon coming on their way but they’ve still maintained their course in heading

towards the storm. The master above all else, being excessively indiscreet or having helpless

expert abilities, or on the grounds that they respected some external interest to adhere to plotted

track and schedule. Only those bridge officers can disclose their choice to keep plotted course.

So most likely, we won't actually discover the components which decide their choice, their

estimations, and their thinking.

Second, the intensity of the storm’s winds and waves have affected the ship’s propellers

and for sure, the engine. One of the boat’s engines had stalled and the vessel was overturned

by a powerful wave before eventually sinking. According from SteelGuru Business News, the

said vessel had her logged issues with the ship's propulsion and auxiliary machinery from an

inspection report from Indonesian authorities last December 2019. That’s why the

seaworthiness of its propulsion system may have been triggered by the pressures of the storm.
 Third, A 2019 report by the Australian government on the cattle ship's transit in June

from Australia to Indonesia noted the vessel's departure was delayed for a week because of

stability and navigation issues identified by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Gulf

Livestock 1 was detained by the Australian authorities for three days last May 2019, because

of issues related to its navigation Electronic Chart Display and Information System. The report

cited both a lack of up-to-date charts and training for officers using the system. It may be too

far from the time of incident but still, it can be one of the reasons of some complication that

led to this incident.

I would sort this incident as a reasonable and pure force major case, with human factor

being secondary, and strong nature factor is the primary.

ACTIONS TAKEN BY CREW

The crew has done the right thing in transmitting a distress call to the nearest authority

since they already know that their vessel is in danger. But unfortunately, as soon as she was

disabled, she was doomed, considering her type and design, with very high, ship’s length-long,

livestock compartments superstructure. The master by that ship was for surely done that he

must consider his crewmates’ safety by all means. Actions as to avoiding the storm like some

maneuvering adjustments wasn’t for sure accessible that time since MV Gulf Livestock 1 was

experiencing engine failures including the propeller system and the auxiliary machinery.

ACTIONS TAKEN BY RESCUERS

The said distressed call was received by the Japanese authorities and has taken up the

actions in rescuing MV Gulf Livestock 1. Although, aside from their mission, one of the

factors that has been a major hindrance is the upcoming storm which is bringing high waves

and intense winds. Some crewmembers were found but there are still lots of them who are

still missing.
 A first survivor 45-year-old Filipino chief officer was found on September 2, 2020,

Wednesday evening, with the body of a second crew member recovered at sea on September

4, 2020, early Friday. Coastguards have found a second survivor on Friday afternoon, a 30-

year-old Filipino man, who was spotted in a life raft several kilometers from Kodakarajima, a

remote island in southwestern Japan. The man, identified as a deckhand, was reached by a

patrol boat and was alone in the raft. The rescue effort was initially hampered by rough seas,

strong winds and torrential rain. Rescuers have also spotted the dead bodies of dozens of cattle

floating in the ocean near the areas where the men were found, along with a bundle of orange

rope and part of another lifejacket bearing the ship’s name. Aircraft, boats and diverse continue

to scour the ocean.

RECOMMENDATION

As for the whole study itself, it’s been clear to us that the primary factor as to causing

this incident was the severe typhoon and secondary is the human errors. Some reports were

also listed that the ship has logged issues last 2019 with its propulsion system and to its

navigational surveys (ECDIS). In navigating, we always propagate the principle of making the

safest navigation from point A to point B. Then if we really value that principle, then for sure

it’s okay for us to adjust our sails or much better if we could stay only to one port up until the

storm decreases its intensity. Even if we could say that all vessels nowadays are high

technologies but we can not be complacent with that concept since we are all dealing with

nature. And nature is becoming more stronger by on how we are treating our world. It’s okay

to stop an operation for a moment because we should also prioritize the lives of many. Our

decisions as seafarers are always valid. And it’s better to be questioned or be inspected by the

authorities rather than continuing the operation but will take risk to all of your lives.

Let’s always remember, safety should always be our priority rather than anything else.