A live export ship that suffered a major engine failure in Darwin two weeks ago has been repaired, reloaded with cattle and departed for Indonesia.
On May 15, the Nine Eagle broke down at Darwin Port after it was loaded with about 1,800 head of cattle, in a shipment organised by Perth-based company Livestock Shipping Services.
The cattle were kept on board the ship for six nights, but after a spare part for the engine failed to arrive, the Federal Department of Agriculture ordered the livestock be unloaded.
After spending a week at an export yard south of Darwin, the cattle were re-loaded onto the Nine Eagle on Sunday, May 28.
Australian Livestock Exporters' Council chief executive Mark Harvey-Sutton said the Nine Eagle was now on its way to Indonesia.
"This followed repairs to the vessel to the satisfaction of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and welfare checks to the satisfaction of Department of Agriculture and NT authorities," he said.
"The exporter is very grateful for the hard work of all involved to get the vessel away successfully and would like to thank everyone involved."
ABC Rural understands the cost of disembarking the cattle, trucking and keeping them in a quarantine yard — all borne by the exporter — will be significant.
NT Minister for Agribusiness Paul Kirby said the incident had been treated "like a biosecurity exercise" by the Department of Industry.
"Once those cattle stepped onto that vessel, they were treated as if they have left the mainland," he said.
"It has been good to engage closely with the live export industry ... and make sure that everything has been stepped through."
Busy week for live exports at Darwin
More than 15,000 head of cattle and buffalo are set to be exported from the Darwin Port this week, in the busiest week so far this year for the NT trade.
The livestock are being loaded onto six different vessels across the week, including the Nine Eagle.
Live export prices have eased, as stations across northern Australia dry out and mustering ramps up, with quotes for feeder steers for June at $3.30 per kilogram.
