The US Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection responded to a report of three stowaways on the merchant vessel, Diana J, on January 16, about three miles off the Port of Miami. The boarding teams found no additional stowaways, rescinded the Captain of the Port Order and the stowaways were taken into custody.
On December 21, four Nigerian stowaways were arrested aboard the Grande Tema vessel, after threatening the vessel’s crew. They have now been charged with affray for allegedly threatening the crew and trying to take control of the ship. During the hearing, the prosecutor asked the court for a three week delay in order to allow for more preparations, asserting that the case may be ‘undercharged’ relative to the severity of the alleged crime.
Essex police has rescued the 71,000-tonne Italian vessel, Grande Tema, on December 21 in Thames, after stowaways allegedly threatened its crew. Namely, officials detained four stowaways, while no injuries were reported. Sources say that the stowaways boarded the ship in Lagos, or during stops on the west African coast.
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority are using strict security measures to close all avenues that are used by people who want to use the country’s sea ports to stowaway to Western countries. Ghana’s Tema port is facing serious problems with stowaway incidents, with ‘one or two’ persons caught engaging in it this year.
In the evening hours of Monday, the Sea Rescue South Africa rescued an injured man from the cargo ship ‘UAL Lobito’, while off the Port of Table Bay at anchorage. The injured person was one of two unathorized passengers found on the ship and was reportedly injured from a fall onboard.
As the stowaway activity in the South African port of Durban has seen a recent increase, the Japan P&I Club recommended that operators should employ the services of private security guards during the vessel’s port stay at the port and that the crew should remain vigilant at all times.
The National Sea Rescue Institute helped in the rescue of a suspected stowaway on Friday, June 8. The stowaway was injured onboard the ship MI Harmony that had docked into the Port of Port Elizabeth. The man was transported to a hospital for further treatment. His condition is currently stable.
The 42nd session of IMO’s Facilitation Committee took place from 5 to 8 June, focusing on work to the facilitation of international maritime traffic. Data standardisation, single window system, stowaways, maritime corruption were, inter alia, key items on this year’s agenda.
North P&I Club informed that there has been a notable change in stowaway trends over the last year and a half, as an increased activity is reported around a number of European ports. Potential stowaways target Bilbao’s commercial port and are being discovered on board container and general cargo vessels heading for UK ports,
Port of Dakar Authorities have reminded vessels of the security measures concerning watchmen and access, that must be followed when vessels are in port, with respect to illegal emigration, Steamship Mutual P&I Club informed citing information provided by Club Correspondents Budd.
