Stowaway
Person who hides aboard a ship to gain free passage or escape circumstances ashore, without consent of the operator.
In practice
Discovered typically during ISPS pre-departure search at last loading port. The master notifies flag state, P&I correspondent, agent, and next port. Repatriation is the shipowner's expense; the P&I correspondent handles immigration paperwork. Average case 14-30 days.
Regulatory detail & full definition
Covered by IMO FAL Convention Section 4 (Stowaways). Master must inform next port and flag/port states; the shipowner is generally liable for repatriation costs. P&I Club provides cover up to a substantial limit. Most stowaway incidents originate in West African ports (Lagos, Tema, Abidjan). Pre-departure stowaway searches required by the company SMS.
Authoritative source: IMO Resolutions Index ↗
Related
Source: FAL Convention 1965 (as amended 2002); IMO MSC.312(88)
High confidence
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