The replacement ship that Stena Line identified on Monday, has received clearance from the Department of Agriculture to carry calf exports to the continent, the Irish Farmers Journal can confirm.

As exclusively revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal in November, calf exporters were notified that the Stena Horizon, the main ferry boat involved in calf exports, would be in dry dock later this month for refurbishment.

On Monday, a replacement boat for the Horizon was identified and today (Tuesday), Department of Agriculture officials inspected the boat and declared it suitable for calf exports.

“The inspections went well,” the Irish Farmers Journal was told by a spokesperson for Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.

Last week, concern was mounting among exporters as no suitable replacement had been found for the Horizon.

The news comes as exporters begin to buy calves in earnest for export. However, while the boat has received clearance, the capacity of the boat has not been confirmed.

In springtime, the Stena Horizon typically carries 15 approved livestock trucks and at 300 calves per truck, it can carry up to 13,500 calves per month.

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