Africa remains a hotspot for stowaways

Decreasing numbers welcomed

While the number of incidents reported from Africa ports have decreased, statistics show that Africa is still the main hotspot for stowaway embarkations.

According to a statement issued by Gard, African ports represent significantly almost 60% of all embarkations of stowaways during the period 2019 – 2023 based on International Group of P&I Clubs (IGP&I) and IMO GISIS data.

South African ports, which have traditionally been regarded as high-risk ports, have seen a decrease in the number of stowaway embarkations. This also applies to ports in some West African countries, such as Ghana and Nigeria. However, South and West African ports in general must continue to be viewed as having a high stowaway risk.

With 17% of all embarkations recorded in Nigerian ports, the country is seen as one with the highest risk.

Many North African countries have become major transit points for African and Arab migrants trying to reach Europe to escape war and poverty.

As such there is a clear upward trend in the number of incidents reported from the Maghreb region of North Africa, particularly from the port of Casablanca in Morocco and Rades/Tunis and La Goulette Nord in Tunisia.

The International Group of P&I Clubs (IGP&I) regularly collects data on stowaways. Based on the claims experience of all the member Clubs, areas and ports where stowaways are a common problem are identified, along with the nationalities of persons stowing away and the average cost of stowaway incidents.

The number of stowaway incidents reported by the IGP&I Clubs has decreased by more than two-thirds since IGP&I carried out its first data collection exercise for the 2007/2008 policy year. It also shows a slight downward trend over the past five years.

The total number of stowaways involved has also decreased, but not at the same rate as the incident figures. This means that the number of stowaways per incident has been growing, and the data would seem to suggest that the current average is close to three stowaways per incident.

Whilst the total cost net of deductible to the IGP&I, including fines imposed on shipowners by states, has dropped since the highs in the 2000’s and early 2010’s, the cost per stowaway incident, as well as per stowaway, continues to show an upward trend. The cost now stands at nearly USD 30,000 per incident and USD 10,000 per stowaway.

It is important to note that the cost to shipowners is higher than that incurred by the Clubs as, in addition to their deductible, shipowners are likely to incur other costs, which are not insured.