Joline

The "Jolene", loaded with two lorries containing hundreds of sheep, sailed from Ramsgate port on Nov 21 at 11 a.m. Before it left one of the lorries had closed sides and could not be viewed by RSPCA inspectors but the other was open and a lame sheep was seen. A Defra vet climbed on board and tried to find it but was unable to and the ship sailed with the sheep on board. But at 1 p.m. as conditions became worse in the Channel, a decision was made to turn the Jolene around and it began sailing back to Ramsgate, finally arriving back at 4.30 p.m. When the ship arrived back the Animal Health inspectors said that the sheep would be examined on the ship. RSPCA inspectors made a formal request to take part in the inspection on board but were refused permission. Following an eight-minute inspection by Animal Health, the lorries were unloaded and left the port to drive back to where they had come from. The RSPCA was not told where the sheep were being taken to. The "Jolene" remained docked at Ramsgate and the RSPCA has not been told when the ship would try to sail again.

A move to turn back a ship bound for Ramsgate loaded with sheep in gale force winds has been dubbed 'barbaric'. RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant hit out at the practice of allowing animals to be at sea on open decks in extreme weather conditions. It coems after the Joline, loaded with two lorries containing hundreds of sheep sailed from Ramsgate yesterday morning. As conditions worsened in the Channel, the Jolene was turned around and began sailing back - arriving at the port at 4.30pm. http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/home/2012/november/22/sheep_ship_turned_back_in_gale.aspx