Update - Fire on Wellard vessel at Fremantle Port

One person has been injured and hospitalised following a fire on board Wellard vessel Ocean Drover at Fremantle Port earlier today. Three other people are being assessed by hospital doctors.

The fire is believed to have occurred in the ship’s accommodation area at approximately 8am. The fire has been contained to the accommodation and bridge section of the ship.

All 50 crew were safely evacuated from the vessel and been accounted for. One person – a man aged in his 40s – has been injured and is receiving medical treatment.

The remaining crew members are being assessed by St John Ambulance and Department of Health representatives on site. A number of people may be transported to hospital for further assessment if required.

No livestock were on board the vessel at the time of the fire. The vessel was preparing to load cattle for transport to Indonesia early next week.

Wellard is assisting emergency services in relation to the incident. The company wishes to express its appreciation to Fremantle Port and emergency services agencies for their comprehensive response to the incident.

The company’s focus is now on ensuring the injured crew member receives the necessary medical care, as well as making arrangements for crew accommodation on shore.

An update will be provided when the company has further information.

For further information please contact:

Mike Groves
Phone: + 61 8 9485 8888
Mobile: +61 (0) 427 065 551
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