Four Nigerian Stowaways Arrested On MSC Boxship in Spain

Nigerian stowaways have been arrested after their discovery on the top of an MSC vessel rudder in the Canary Islands, in Spain.

Salvamento Maritimo and the national police in the Canary Islands reported the detention of four stowaways after an MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company vessel arrived in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on October 26. 

Dockworkers aiding in the arrival of the MSC Fiammetta (73,355 dwt) late on Saturday afternoon spotted the stowaways and reported them to the maritime authorities.

Salvatore Maritimo sent its patrol boat Salvamar Nunki and it was able to retrieve the individuals and bring them ashore for processing. The containership built in 2008 has a capacity of 5,770 TEU.

According to media reports, the four men were identifying as Nigerian citizens. They said they had climbed onto the vessel while it was in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Tracking data indicates that the ship had been at sea for six days making an approximately 2,000 nautical mile trip during which time the stowaways would have been exposed to the sea and wind conditions.

The authorities said the four individuals appeared to be in good health despite the conditions of their voyage. They were being processed and in most cases under Spanish law, they are placed back on the ship which is responsible for reparations.

MSC Fiammetta was showing on its AIS transmission that it got back underway from the Canary Islands late on Monday, October 28, bound for Fos-sur-Mer. France.