Wellard Sells Final Ship, Signaling a New Chapter

After 46 years in operation, Australia’s Wellard is preparing for a future without ships. The company has announced the sale of its final livestock carrier, the Ocean Drover, for $50 million. The vessel is set to be delivered to a Turkish agribusiness firm by July.

The Ocean Drover is notable as the world’s second-largest purpose-built livestock carrier, with the capacity to transport up to 20,000 cattle or 75,000 sheep.

“We believe that this sale represents the highest possible value that can be realised for shareholders from the Ocean Drover in the current market,” said John Klepec, Wellard’s executive chairman.

Following the sale, Wellard has also indicated plans to delist from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), marking a significant shift in the company’s trajectory.