The MV Ocean Drover, owned by the Wellard Group, is a 177m long vessel with a capacity of 18,000 head of cattle. The ship boasts state-of-the-art feed, water and ventilation systems.

NT Primary Industry Minister Kon Vatskalis said the Territory's current live export market is focused primarily on the supply of cattle to Indonesia, which buys over 90 per cent of cattle exported from the Territory.

"The pastoral industry is vital for the Territory's economy, and the NT Government is committed to assisting the industry to prosper and grow," Mr Vatskalis said.

"This market retains strong indicators that continue to provide evidence of a significantly increased demand over the longer term - and there is no better indication than today's herding of cattle on to the MV Ocean Drover."

Mr Vatskalis said the NT Government was committed to developing new markets for the Territory's live cattle trade.

"In 2008 we saw 295,000 head of Territory cattle exported from Darwin, with a further 70 000 head of interstate cattle also going through the port of Darwin.

"With the Global Financial Crisis and a 2008 drought in the Barkly region, we do not expect to export the same number this year - however this is a short term outlook and numbers are expected to almost double in size in the longer term.

"The NT Government will continue to support the industry through market development for the export trade to south east Asia, research and extension services, technical services to industry and our trading partners and on-going disease surveillance, disease control and livestock identification."