Lloyds’ List: Shipping counts the cost of handling stowaways’
UK special forces stormed the tanker NAVE ANDROMEDA in October, but hijacking charges against its seven stowaways were later dropped. Image: Lloyds’ List
With stowaways costing as much as $300,000 to disembark, getting seafarers invested in ship security is needed to help prevent unauthorised boardings, said PortRisk Manager Ian Wilkinson in his July webinar. Journalist Declan Bush attended the webinar and wrote an article for Lloyds’ List on the financial implications of the threat.
14 July
While west and South Africa remain the main locations for stowaways joining ships, there are reports of increased incidents in Belgium and Germany, said PortRisk Manager Ian Wilkinson in his 13 July webinar: ‘Stowaways: Cape Town and Africa hotspots’. Cape Town, Durban, and Lagos are the main African embarkation ports for stowaways, but Bilbao in Spain is popular with those seeking to reach the UK. The Nigerian Navy has said it arrested 97 stowaways in Lagos in the 12 months to June.
Declan Bush’s article based on the webinar highlights the financial implications for ship operators of stowaways: The hefty fines from authorities - £2000 per stowaway in the UK - are the least of the costs as it is on the ship operator to return the stowaway back to their point of origin or elsewhere if the host nation refused them entry. (Each stowaway can cost at least $40,000 to remove, depending on the complexity of the case.)
Stowaways climb berthing hawsers to enter ships, or board from small boats using hooked ropes. Common hiding places include soft-top containers, ventilation trunks, and rudder trunks.
Read the full article on Lloyds’ List here: Shipping counts the cost of handling stowaways.
LEARN MORE:
If you would like to learn more, you can request access to the recording of Ian Wilkinson’s webinar here: