MV Ocean Drover departs for Singapore

10 November 2014

Wellard’s vessel, the Ocean Drover, is in the process of being relocated to Singapore for repairs to the vessel’s bridge and accommodation areas.

The vessel left Fremantle yesterday under the control of an 8,000 horsepower sea tug for the 2.5 week voyage to Singapore.

Wellard Ships Director Paolo Triglia said while the sea tug was making its way to Fremantle, significant progress had been made in preparing for the repairs, arranging all spares required and removing the damaged infrastructure from the vessel.

“The progress achieved so far will limit the time required to refurbish the ship’s accommodation and bridge areas in Singapore,” Mr Triglia said.

“Singapore is home to the best repair yards in the world and we expect the repair to take approximately 10 weeks. We are also taking the opportunity to perform upgrades of the vessel to new, higher safety standards as well as performing other scheduled maintenance.”

“The Ocean Drover has successfully completed 142 voyages since launched in 2002 and we have no doubt that she will easily complete another 142 voyages and more,” Mr Triglia said.

For further information please contact:
Cameron Morse
Phone: + 61 8 9485 8888
Mobile: +61 (0) 433 886 871
Website: www.wellard.com.au

Background – Wellard

Wellard is a world leader in the production and distribution of livestock and grain.

Its two largest subsidiaries are Wellard Rural Exports, Australia’s largest livestock exporter and ship owner, and Wellard Agri, a large mixed farming land owner and operator specialising in the production of grains, legumes and livestock.

Wellard Rural Exports has supplied quality dairy and beef cattle and sheep and goats to the world for more than 30 years, and its investment in the live export industry is without peer. Based in Fremantle, Western Australia, the company’s operations cover every aspect of the export chain, including feed milling, livestock aggregation, road transport, feedlot facilities throughout Australia and modern shipping.

The company’s flagship carrier, the MV Ocean Drover (formerly the MV Becrux), is a purpose-built livestock carrier capable of carrying 75,000 sheep or 18,000 cattle to major markets around the globe. She was commissioned in 2002.

Two, technologically advanced, purpose-built vessels, the MV Ocean Swagman and the MV Ocean Outback, were launched in 2010. They offer unparalleled levels of safety for the livestock, crew and vessel, and can transport 7000 cattle, 25,000 sheep, or a combination of both.

Wellard’s abattoir, Beaufort River Meats, processes up to 2500 sheep and lambs a day, enabling Wellard to meet customer demand for both livestock and chilled and frozen meat.

Wellard Agri owns and operates eight farms covering 35,700 hectares across three principal agri-hubs. The two northern hubs are located at Dongara and Watheroo in Western Australia’s central midlands and one is located at Kojonup in the Great Southern region of WA.

The Dongara hub is home to The Grange, a 14,500 hectare property which is considered one of Western Australia’s blue chip farming properties.

The remaining landholding being more than 21,500 hectares, in total planting 23,500 hectares to a variety of grains and legumes. The other 6,100ha is devoted to sheep and cattle production, including the Hyfield Poll Merino stud at Kojonup. In addition, Wellard leases an additional 13,500ha for livestock and grain production.

Wellard Agri also has operations in the farm machinery sector, through management of the CLAAS Harvest Centres at Esperance, Katanning, Wongan Hills and Geraldton for the Landpower range of farm machinery.

Visit www.wellard.com.au