Livestock has been stopped from boarding the Spirit of Tasmania, with horses set to race on Melbourne Cup day now unable to travel, one transport operator says.
The ABC understands a number of transport companies have been contacted this afternoon and told their forward bookings have been cancelled, following Thursday's court decision at which ferry operator TT-Line was found guilty of breaching animal welfare laws after 16 polo ponies died during a voyage in 2018.
The ponies were travelling back from a polo event and were found dead inside a trailer after a Bass Strait crossing between Devonport and Melbourne.
On Thursday, the company was found guilty of 29 breaches of the animal welfare act, including that it failed to ensure the horses were individually stalled and to ensure there was adequate ventilation.
It is not clear how long the ban on livestock will continue.
Chris Mahoney runs A1 Horse Transport and has been taking horses over on the Spirit for the last 35 years.
"This is completely devastating news … my business will have to close after this, there's no way forward … I am in complete shock," he said.
Mr Mahoney said he had a load of horses, mares and foals booked on for tonight's sailing but that had now been cancelled.
"Some of those were going to race on Melbourne Cup day," he said.
"I am very frustrated, I do understand TT-Line doing this, but we have been carting horses commercially for years and years and have never had an incident.
"It's not just horses, it's cattle, sheep, goats, everything … it closes our business, effectively immediately.
"The racing and breeding industry too … what do they do?"
Another transport company told the ABC they confirmed the cancellation with a freight manager at TT-Line who said horses would no longer be able to travel.
"I had 16 horses booked for Monday night's sailings and they won't be able to travel anymore," a spokeswoman said.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had a further 30 horses booked to travel next week.
She said the news was devastating and would impact the entire industry.
Government 'working to find a solution'
Labor leader Rebecca White said the government needed to provide urgent clarification around the decision.
"This will impact the racing and breeding industry but also junior competitors in pony club, recreational and amateur riders looking to compete in national competitions, as well as any person needing to transport a horse to or from the mainland," she said.
"The Spirit of Tasmania provides an excellent and vital service for our state and any change to the way it operates must be communicated clearly and widely and unfortunately that doesn't appear to have happened."
A government spokesperson said they were aware of the decision.
"[We] are seeking further advice and working with industry to find a solution."
TT-Line in a statement said it had "apologised to its customers for its decision to cease the transportation of livestock [including horses] effective immediately and until further notice".
"The company was acting on legal advice following the decision of the Magistrates' Court of Tasmania earlier this week," a spokesperson said.
"TT-Line is working to resolve the matter as quickly as possible."
