Measures to discourage and prevent stowaways from boarding a vessel
The West of England P&I Club has issued new Loss Prevention Bulletin on the issue of stowaways, a problem that still remains.
In the twelve month period to the end of 2012 the West of England P&I Club handled 51 stowaway cases involving 125 persons. The total incurred value was approximately $1 million and the numberof stowaways involved in each incident typically ranged from1 to 8.
However, in one particular case 22 stowaways werefound among a cargo of lumber. Although most hid within thedeck stow, 2 stowaways concealed themselves inside a cargohold also containing lumber and suffocated during the voyage due to the oxygen depleting properties of the logs.
Stowaways are expensive to process and repatriate, and it isoften necessary to employ escorts to accompany them intransit when they are finally sent home. Vessels may also be delayed and fined. Moreover, it can be difficult to find countries willing to allow stowaways to disembark, particularly if theyhave no identification documents.
In 2010 the International Group of P&I Clubs carried out research which, based on claims experience, identified the top ten ports world-wide in terms of stowaway boardings. All ofthese ports were in Africa. In addition, IMO conducted a similarstudy using submissions received from flag states which highlighted certain ports in Belgium, particularly Zeebruge, as attracting a large number of potential stowaways, many of whom were economic refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq.
In 2013 the International Group of P&I Clubs published further stowaway data based on claims experience, which showedthat the ports of embarkation, nationality of stowaways andthe number of stowaways had not substantially changed sincethe publication of the earlier research in 2010.
The Loss Prevention Bulletin includes measures to discourage and prevent stowaways from boarding a vessel, actions to take if stoaways are found at sea, repatriation arrangements and a stowaway questionnaire.
For more details please read the relevant bulletin issued by the West of England P&I Club (December 2013)
