Gard Club has recently published an updated Guide on Stowaways to inform shipowners and ships crew about the prevention against stowaway risk.
The stowaway risk is an important part of fulfilling obligations under the ISPS Code and the relevant procedures and measures to do so, including access control and searches, should be clearly stated within a ship’s security plan.
The chances of discovering stowaways secreted away in cargo stored at the terminal will depend on the time available to undertake a thorough search of the cargo before loading and the amount of money the shipowner is prepared to spend. Obviously not every container or vehicle can be checked, however, masters and crew should pay special attention to containers with:
- broken seals, or seals that have been tampered with
- noticeable weight misdeclarations
- signs of recent repair or repainting, or
- small cut-outs or holes used for ventilation.
Reefer containers set at relatively high temperatures could also be a warning sign, as could containers collected from uncontrolled/insecure locations and those that arrive shortly before start of loading. The crew should also be alert to strange odours or noise from vehicles or containers during or after loading.
Shipowners, in cooperation with port operators, should also consider deployment of technology to detect stowaways hiding in cargo units, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) detectors, infrared cameras, as well as heartbeat detectors. While methods of detection will vary from port to port, the type of technology available and procedures for use of the equipment should be discussed with the individual port operators. The use of sniffer-dogs should also be considered.
As far as ship security and watch keeping are concerned, a number of measures can be taken depending on the potential risk of stowaways in the particular port. First and foremost, proper access control relies on crew members who are adequately briefed about how the ship’s trading patterns affect the stowaway risk and the relevant security measures to be implemented.
While the gangway is the easiest and most obvious point of access to the ship, the ISPS Code requires ships to identify and establish relevant security measures for all means of access, which could include:
- access ladders, gangways, and ramps,
- doors, side scuttles, windows, and ports
- mooring lines and anchor chains
- cranes and hoisting gear, and
- rudder trunks.
Access can be controlled in many different ways and the SSP should therefore identify the type of restriction or control measure to be applied at each access point, and the means of enforcing them. Depending on the individual port’s security level, ships should typically apply a combination of
- watchkeepers
- external signs directing visitors to the correct access point
- physical barriers, such as gangway gates, doors and fences, and
- an access pass system, preferably an electronic gangway control system, for storing crew and visitor data.
Use of CCTV camera systems, motion sensors, and lighting can also be strong deterrents to potential stowaways. In addition, procedures for access control should include clear rules for checking people, the type of ID that is acceptable and when to deny access and when to call a superior for assistance.
An aft-ship design with an open rudder trunk can be found on many ships and the following precautionary measures should be considered when such ships are trading to ports with a high risk of stowaways:
- Cover openings to the rudder compartment with grating or steel bars to prevent stowaways from gaining access to the area.
- Install an inspection hatch in the steering gear room that will enable inspection of the rudder trunk prior to departures.
Based on experience, and considering the pressure often put on watchkeepers, it should be considered if the best solution is to arrange for watchkeepers to work in teams/pairs. In addition to monitoring identified access points, it is also recommended that the watchkeepers patrol the immediate surroundings of a ship.
As stowaways frequently seek access to the rudder trunk or try to climb onboard via ropes, the water around the ship should be checked regularly for small boats or swimmers. Hence, access control should apply to both landward access as well as seaward access.
