By GMM News | 2024-11-05 | Case Security |

Four Nigerian stowaways were found perched on the rudder of the MSC Fiammetta, a container ship arriving from Africa.

On October 26, the vessel docked at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, when dockworkers spotted the stowaways and alerted maritime authorities.

Salvamento Maritimo, a Spanish search and rescue agency, quickly dispatched its patrol boat, Salvamar Nunki, to bring down the individuals.

The stowaways were brought ashore for investigation, and they appeared to be in fair health despite the dangerous six-day journey.

The MSC Fiammetta, which was built in 2008 and can carry 5,770 TEU, traveled around 2,000 nautical miles from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where the men reportedly boarded.

Previous incidents have shown that stowaways can move from the rudder to the steering gear room, a risky move that has become increasingly common.

Authorities confirmed that the four men were being investigated under Spanish law, which often requires stowaways to return to the ship responsible for their transportation.

In some cases, such as the three Nigerian stowaways found on an oil tanker in November 2023, asylum is granted on humanitarian grounds.

An increasing number of migrants are trying to reach the Canary Islands. Spanish police have reported an upsurge in sightings of small boats and stowaways on commercial ships, with two more found in June 2023.

Earlier this year, two young Nigerians were spotted aboard another MSC ship, MSC Marta, after it arrived from West Africa.

On October 28, the MSC Fiammetta resumed its journey from the Canary Islands, heading to Fos-sur-Mer, France, with its cargo intact and the stowaways safely ashore.

Reference: balitangmarino