Four Nigerian Stowaways Found on Vessel Rudder in Canary Islands After Dangerous Journey from Africa

Nigerian stowaways were once again discovered in the Canary Islands, this time found sitting on top of a vessel’s rudder after surviving a dangerous journey from Africa. Four stowaways were detained by Salvamento Maritimo and the national police in the Canary Islands after an MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company vessel arrived in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on October 26. The stowaways were spotted by dockworkers assisting with the arrival of the MSC Fiammetta, a containership with a capacity of 5,770 TEU. The individuals were brought ashore for processing after being retrieved by Salvamento Maritimo’s patrol boat Salvamar Nunki.

The four men, identified as Nigerian citizens, claimed to have climbed onto the vessel while it was in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The ship had been at sea for six days, covering approximately 2,000 nautical miles, exposing the stowaways to harsh sea and wind conditions. Despite the challenging voyage, the individuals appeared to be in good health. Spanish authorities typically place stowaways back on the ship responsible for reparations, but in some cases, asylum may be granted on humanitarian grounds.

Spanish authorities have noted an increase in migrants attempting to reach the Canary Islands, with reports of small boats being rescued and stowaways being discovered on commercial ships. Previous incidents include stowaways from Ivory Coast found on another MSC containership in June 2023, and two young Nigerians found on MSC Marta in July 2023. The MSC Fiammetta resumed its journey to Fos-sur-Mer, France, after departing from the Canary Islands on October 28.

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