In March 2021, the livestock carrier ELBEIK with almost 1,800 young bulls on board, wandered the Mediterranean for almost three months because of suspected bluetongue virus. 179 animals did not survive the journey and the remaining animals were taken to the Spanish port of Cartagena and humanely killed.
Five months later, on August 6, 2021, the ELBEIK caught fire off the port of Tarragona. The fire reportedly started either in a compartment or cabin on a deck below the bridge deck and spread rapidly. The 18 crew were evacuated by Spanish SAR boat Fomalhaut. A fire team boarded the ship and tugs with water cannons were deployed. No cattle were on board as the ship was waiting for cattle loading when the fire broke out.
Port authorities in Tarragona officially declared the ELBEIK as "abandoned " in September 2022. The left behind vessel is now to be auctioned off.