STOWAWAYS
	An Overview Although stowaways are known to board ships at almost any port, the main routes they take tend to be from European departure points, to ports in Canada and the USA, and from African harbours to ports in Northern Europe and the USA. Experience has shown that Container Ships are particularly vulnerable for the following reasons:- Container ships regularly trade between Europe and North America and also between African and European ports. Empty containers offer ideal transportation opportunities for stowaways. There is a wide variety of hiding places aboard a container ship. The port and starboard service tunnels which run below decks between the side shell and the containers cells are particularly vulnerable. The open plan of container ports and their low level of security makes them easily accessible and provides able opportunity for potential stowaways. Every effort must be made to prevent stowaways from boarding when a vessel is in port or lying at anchor. Gangway and anchor watches should be mounted and the watchkeepers should be diligent in their duties. Stowaways have been known to get on board by posing as stevedores, by hiding in empty containers with the collusion of stevedores and crew and by climbing up cables and boarding during the day or night. During the night, and during non-working periods, it is recommended that the gangway be raised to deter unauthorised boarding, Even with the most thorough watchkeeping, determined stowaways will still find methods of getting on board. Regular searches of the vessel must always be carried out whilst in port and a carefully executed search of the entire vessel immediately prior to sailing. Routine ship-board searches are probably the most effective way of detecting stowaways and they should be carried out in accordance with the instructions given in this Web Page. When stowaway searches are carried out, an appropriate entry should be made in the ship's log. Recommendations If - despite careful watchkeeping and thorough search procedures - a stowaway is found on board, the following course of action is to be recommended: The owners, agents and P&I correspondents must be informed immediately and preferably before arrival at the next port of call, so that the P&I Club can be given as much notice as possible. Masters should search the stowaway upon discovery and confiscate any weapons. Remove all passports, papers, personal belongings and shoes. The stowaway should then be secured in a locked cabin, with minimum comforts. If necessary, the stowaway should be guarded. The ship's complement must be allowed to become friendly with the stowaway or show any sympathy for his plight. Stowaways often try to hide identification papers in cabins etc. so the appropriate searches should be carefully carried out. Stowaways should not be put to work while on board, and no stowaway should be given the opportunity to work his passage. The P&I Club will need to know the vessel's itinerary and they must receive a completed questionnaire as soon as possible. This is very important, as some ports are more amenable to the removal and repatriation of stowaways than others. The Club should also be advised if the vessel is returning directly to the country where the stowaway is known to have embarked. The Members, Masters and the ship's complement should be aware that, in various ports, owners have a legal obligation to notify the immigration and police authorities - in advance of their arrival - if their vessel has a stowaway on board, otherwise heavy fines can be imposed. Please note, however, that providing the P&I Club is notified of the presence of stowaways as soon as possible, these fines can be avoided, repatriation plans can be drawn up, the appropriate authorities notified and the situation controlled. Type of Stowaways Stowaways can generally be categorized into three main groups:- THE OPPORTUNIST: Opportunists are usually individuals who act on their own, having made the decision to stowaway on the spur of the moment. Possibly stevedores, or people closely associated with them, the opportunist stowaway is likely to be ill-prepared and so the easiest to deter. THE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS: The dedicated individual is also likely to be operating on his own, but he will probably be better prepared and, having planned his route, will be looking for a particular ship and a definite destination. ORGANIZED TRAFFICKING / ECONOMIC REFUGEES: This group is highly organized and tends to target the liner trade or vessels chartered by the liner trade. Container ships are also particularly vulnerable. Special care should be taken by all vessels operating on the following trade routes: North European ports to ports in Canada and the USA. African ports to and north European and North American ports. Actions to be taken prior to arrival in Port Ensure that all permanent deck lighting is fully operational. If portable lighting is used, check it thoroughly and ensure that all bulbs, flexes etc. are in good working order. Always remember that a well lit vessel will deter potential stowaways from attempting to find a safe hideaway on board. All areas which are not essential for the loading/discharge of cargo - such as storage lockers and holds not being worked - should be carefully secured prior to arrival in port. Actions to be taken when at Anchor Ships at anchor are always vulnerable, so it is particularly important to make it as difficult as possible for anyone attempting to climb on board. All means of access should be secured, including the hawser-pipe covers on the anchor chains. All gangways and accommodation ladders should be raised when not in use. A proper watch should be kept at all times - regular deck patrols should be made by crew members working in pairs. Security lighting should be used wherever available. Actions to be taken when in Port When a vessel is in port, it becomes a positive target for anyone who might consider it to be a convenient and free mode of transport. This is even more likely to be the case if the vessel's next port of call has become common knowledge. There is an even greater risk of organised trafficking if the port in question has unfenced areas with poor security. The risk becomes higher still if the vessel's next destination is a country known to be favoured by stowaways, such as Canada or the USA. It is essential that information concerning the vessel's future ports of call is restricted. Senior Officers should ensure that all information concerning the vessel's ports of call is restricted to as few personnel as possible, prior to departure. This can have the effect of preventing opportunist stowaways from making any plans, especially if the vessel is remaining in port for a number of days. There should be positive restriction and control of the movement of shoreside personnel on board the vessel. This is not always easy to enforce in certain ports, particularly in the case of cargo vessels. It is important however, to keep a check on the number of gangs on board, and the number of stevedores in each gang. A careful check should be made at the beginning and end of each shift and the correct number of stevedores should be accounted for. An efficient gangway watch should be maintained at all times. Each and every individual arriving at the gangway should be questioned to verify his right to board the ship. Good communication should be maintained between all personnel on duty; if you always give the impression of an efficient and high profile regime, this will deter most opportunist stowaways and thieves. Access to accommodation areas should always be restricted. Only essential accesses should remain open and unlocked and a regular check should be made of all accommodation areas. Anyone found in these areas, who is not associated with port operations, should be challenged and diplomatically asked to account for their presence. All areas which are not essential for the loading/discharge of cargo should be secured and locked and regular inspections made to check for tampering. Areas which cannot be adequately secured - such as lifeboats - should be kept to a minimum, thus reducing the possibility of attracting stowaways and simplifying the pre-departure search procedure. To save time prior to departure and to reduce the possibility of attracting stowaways, each hold can be swept and lashed as work is completed. The hold can then be thoroughly searched and all accesses secured and locked. Anyone without a valid reason for being on board the vessel should be escorted ashore immediately and the relevant authorities informed. Pre-sailing Action Immediately prior to a vessel's departure from port, it is important to conduct a thorough and extensive search using the manual's checklist. For convenience, the checklist should be prominently displayed on a bulkhead on the bridge, or in the ship's office. The checklist recommends dividing the vessel into four zones which should be systematically searched at the same time, After each area has been searched, this should be confirmed by radio, allowing the appointed officer to compile the checklist. Upon completion of the checklist, an entry should be made in the deck log book, recording the time, date and names of the individuals who have conducted the search. If, despite all your precautions, you find uninvited guests aboard your vessel, you should form a positive plan of action, following the owner/ operator's standing instructions and the information contained in this Web Page.