Agriland can reveal exclusive details on a new livestock-carrier vessel that is planned to arrive in Waterford Port in April of this year where it will be kitted out with calf milk feeders before collecting its first consignment of Irish calves for export to the Netherlands.

Speaking to Agriland, David Geary from Limetree Global Shipping, the firm that co-owns the MV Alondra along with Danish man Bjorn Claussen, said the boat is approved to bring 5,000 calves on the first shipment but has the capacity to bring more calves than this on subsequent journeys.

He said that the MV Alondra is a Danish-registered livestock carrier vessel that has six decks and can operate at up to gale force eight on the Beaufort Scale.

The vessel also has sufficient fodder and fuel storage capacity for a 22-day voyage.

The custom built livestock-carrier boat has facilities to transport calves in loose pens and allow for milk feeding during transit.

Geary said: "We have initially been approved for a shipment of 5,000 calves of 50kg until we see what stocking numbers are comfortable. The vessel has completed long voyages with 11,000 50kg sheep."

The ship will arrive in Waterford in the first week of April having completed a voyage from Montevideo in Uruguay to Turkey.

Geary explained: "Once the ship has docked at Waterford Port, calf-feeding systems will be installed.

"These have been designed and built by veal equipment and solutions manufacturers G van Beek en Zn as recommended by Dutch-based veal producers VanDrie Group.

"The installation team will work with Bjorn Claussen and the ship’s engineer and captain.

"VanDrie Group will supply milk powder which has a dissolution temperature of 52°C and all calves on a deck can be fed in under one hour. Each calf will be fed milk five times while on board."

It is planned that the MV Alondra will be based at Waterford Port and from then on, all voyages will originate from Ireland.

The calves being transported to The Netherlands will be unloaded at Vlissingen (Flushing) Port.

The round trip is expected to take seven days with one day to load the calves, two days to sail over, one day to unload the calves and three days to deep clean the vessel and return to Ireland.

Geary emphasised: "Strict biosecurity and feed-management protocols will be implemented for all livestock on the vessel.

There will be a total of 11 stockmen on board, all of whom have experience handling unweaned calves. There will also be a team of 11 other staff on board including officers and seamen.

Calves will be collected at Vlissingen port by the Netherlands-based customers who will provide staff assistance at unloading.

In a full year, it is anticipated that it will transport about 70,000 cattle from Ireland which is approximately 20% of the total number of cattle exported in 2024.

It is planned that the MV Alondra will make 10 voyages to The Netherlands with calves this year with each consignment bringing calves for an agreed number of Dutch customers.

After the 10 voyages with calves, the vessel will operate routes to Bilbao, Casablanca and Algeria transporting weanlings up to slaughter-fit cattle with the vessel being hired to individual exporters by deck.

Some of the larger Irish companies currently sourcing and supplying calves to Dutch customers have expressed precariousness about the feasibility of the new transport method but acknowledged that the alternative transport method for Irish calves to key EU markets “would guarantee a release valve and take pressure of ferry sailings”.

Geary said: "We have enough firm enquiries for voyages to take us comfortably to 2026. Commencing April 2025, we are going to use MV Alondra for the benefit of Irish farming.

"A livestock carrier takes three-five years to build from the design stage. None have been built since Alondra floated in 2017 and there are less than 70 such ships world-wide.

"This ship has never been idle and has transported livestock all around the world," he added.

The president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) Denis Drennan viewed the MV Alondra recently while the boat was docked at Greenore Port in Co. Louth.

He said: "The boat is very impressive. The inside of the boat is spotless, it's like brand new.

"There's going to be milk available to the calves during transport. It's another option to get calves to market destinations and you would hope the calf exporters and the dairy industry are able to work constructively with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to make it a smooth operation."