Stowaways in S. African Port: Authorities Change Policy
There have been changes in the way authorities deal with stowaways in South African ports, now making the ship responsible for preventing unauthorised personnel from boarding in the first place, the UK P&I Club informs. If immigration decide that any person illegally on board is a stowaway then the vessel will be liable for all the costs and consequences of repatriation. Over the past two weeks, three cases have arisen involving stowaways and it appears that the local immigration…
Ship Stowaways Expensive & Inconvenient Passengers
The issue of stowaways is one which has existed ever since vessels began to trade. In the twelve month period to the end of 2012 the Club handled 51 stowaway cases involving 125 persons. The total incurred value was approximately $1 million and the number of stowaways involved in each incident typically ranged from 1 to 8. However, in one particular case 22 stowaways were found among a cargo of lumber. Although most hid within the deck stow, 2 stowaways concealed themselves inside…
Stowaways Choose to Hide Between a Rock & a Hard Place
The American P&I Club warns again that stowaways continue to hide in the ship's rudder stock recess. The P&I Club advise its members that stowaways wait in port areas until after dark and then swim to the rudder stock, climbing it and hiding inside the recess. Having gained access to an external area of the vessel, they cannot then be easily found by the ship’s crew. It has been observed that most of these vessels come from Africa in ballast and, for that reason, the rudder stock recess stays above water. However, as the vessel rolls and pitches, the stowaways are exposed to the sea. Members are advised to take all necessary measures as part of the Ship Security Plan (SSP) in accordance with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code compliance requirements.
Ensuring There are No Hiding Places for Stowaways
The problem of stowaways hiding in a ship’s rudder stock recess, especially at African ports, still persists, the American Club has warned its members. They are urged to take proper precautions to prevent stowaways from boarding and hiding themselves in this manner. The club first alerted its members to this practice in April 2004. The cunning stowaways wait in port areas until after dark and then swim to the rudder stock, climb it and hide inside the recess, making it difficult for the ship’s crew to find them.
