Stowaways have hidden and undetected in various locations
The Republic of the Marshall Islands issues Marine Safety Advisory regarding Stowaways origintating from South and West African ports as follows:
Since June 2011 the Maritime Administrator has received 11 reports of stowaways from south and west African ports being found onboard Marshall Islands flagged ships either at sea or during pre-departure stowaway searches. Based on reports that have been received, stowaways have boarded ships in a number of ways, including:
- Climbing up over the side using mooring lines
- Climbing aboard by way of the rudder
- Hiding in containers prior to loading
The stowaways have hidden, undetected, in various locations, including:
- Chain locker
- Rudder trunk
- Funnel stack
- Engine room vents
- Deck cranes
Containers Notable items revealed in individual reports were:
- The stowaways came aboard in between the time of the stowaway search and the vessels departure; in one instance they boarded the vessel while lines were being taken in.
- The stowaways were assisted to the vessel by a small boat from shore and in one case the small boat returned to retrieve the stowaways as they jumped overboard after being discovered.
MSD 001 (11/01) 2 of 2 MSA No. 118-11
The stowaways used a hand saw to cut the security grating used to prevent access to the rudder trunk. Owners, operators and Masters are reminded of the Maritime Administrator’s Marine Guideline No. 7-41-5, which provides guidance on preventing stowaways access to ships. It also covers the responsibilities of the Master, ship owner/operator and governments in the treatment of the stowaways while onboard the ship and in resolving stowaway cases.
Owners, operators and Masters of Marshall Islands flagged ships are also reminded that Marshall Islands Maritime Regulations require that a search for stowaways be conducted and entered in the ship’s log prior to departure from each port. The procedures for conducting such searches should be addressed in the ship’s security plan (SSP). The discovery of a stowaway indicates a breach of the vessel’s security.
As such they should be investigated to analyze the cause of the security breach in order to identify the actions necessary to prevent future stowaway occurrences. Further, port State authorities have detained vessels entering port with stowaways as being in violation of the ISPS Code and have required external audits of the SSP and other actions to lift the detention. Port State control authorities have also imposed requirements that vessel operators hire private security guards for the duration of the vessel’s port call when stowaways are found onboard.
Owners, operators and Masters of Marshall Islands flagged ships are also reminded that the Maritime Administrator is to be informed whenever stowaways are found onboard. These reports should include: the date and port where they embarked the vessel; when and where they were found onboard; the number, nationality and physical condition of the stowaways, and planned port of disembarkation (if found at sea or on arrival at a port other than where they embarked).
A follow-up report should be provided (a) once the stowaways are disembarked so they can be repatriated or (b) in the event port officials refuse to allow stowaways to be disembarked.
Source: The Republic of the Marshall Islands
