Group of 11 Albanian stowaways including a pregnant woman and a 17-year-old boy are discovered on car transporter ship in Southampton docks
- Police were alerted to incident at 11.25am this morning with stowaways detained
- 17-year-old admitted to childcare services and mother-to-be taken to hospital
A group of 11 Albanian stowaways including a pregnant woman and a 17-year-old boy have been discovered on a ship in Southampton docks.
Police were alerted to the incident at 11.25am this morning with the stowaways, who were found in Dock Gate 4, later being detained while Border Force investigates.
The 17-year-old boy was admitted to childcare services and the mother-to-be was taken to hospital.
A spokesperson for Associated British Ports, which operates the dock, told the Southern Daily Echo: ‘We are aware that the incident involving stowaways on the vessel MV Salome has now been resolved.
‘ABP continues to support relevant government agencies with their investigations and is working with the shipping company and owners as required.’
It follows SBS commandos earlier retaking an oil tanker off the Isle of Wight coast in just seven minutes after reports of ‘Nigerian stowaways’ on board becoming violent and ‘threatening the crew’ sparked fears of a hijacking.
Crew members sought shelter in a safe room on the Liberian-registered oil tanker, named the Nave Andromeda, which was due to arrive at Southampton at 10.30am on Sunday morning.
The Special Boat Service landed 16 personnel aboard the vessel via air and sea following a ten-hour standoff, with two blacked-out Royal Navy Merlin helicopters and two Wildcats also used in the operation