THE ship which was refused permission to off load 1,130 cattle from Ireland at the port of Tripoli, Libya, has taken 70 tonnes of fodder on board. The vessel, the Guernsey Express. is now heading for the Libyan port of Derna, where it is expected to arrive at about 4 p.m. today.
Arrangements had been made to have the cattle off loaded on arrival at Derna, a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture said.
"We were in contact with the boat this afternoon and the report is that all the cattle are well and in good condition."
Compassion in World Farming expressed concern yesterday that efforts to persuade the Libyan authorities to permit the unloading of the cattle at Tripoli had failed.
"These animals are already weakened from having limited food over the past week, with half rations for two days and no food for two days. Two have died," said the CIWF.
"It is unacceptable that after spending 10 days at sea and eight days in port, these animals are now forced to endure a further two day sea journey."
The organisation said live animals should not be exported to non EU countries for slaughter.
The Irish organiser for CIWF, Ms Mary Anne Bartlett, said: "CIWF has always argued that the welfare of Irish animals exported to countries outside the EU is totally out of control, as this incident shows.
The president of the Irish Farmers' Association, Mr John Donnelly, said he welcomed the solution to the impasse.