Stowaway risk at West African ports is back in focus after marine insurer Skuld reported two cases in which seven people were found hiding on board days after sailing.
In the first case, in early August 2026, seven stowaways emerged several days after the vessel left Tema, Ghana, and called at San Pedro, Côte d'Ivoire. They had concealed themselves in the crane house. Two months later, another vessel found seven Ghanaian stowaways who had boarded via the gangway at Tema and hidden around the access ladder of a cargo hold hatch. Both vessels had shore-based searches with trained dogs before departure; neither search found them.
The hiding places were not hard to reach. Skuld said the findings raise questions about how thoroughly crews conducted their own searches, and warned against treating them as a checklist exercise. Both cases also point to weak gangway control during busy cargo operations, when stevedores, contractors and shore personnel move on and off the ship.
For operators on the West Africa run, the message is that third-party security is an extra layer, not a substitute. A negative dog search does not mean the vessel is clean.
Skuld recommends two physical searches: one before departure from the berth, ideally after cargo work and shore personnel have left, and a second after the pilot disembarks to catch anyone who boarded or moved hiding places in between. A comprehensive search may take three to four hours depending on vessel size and type, and that time should not be cut to meet the sailing schedule. Ropes, safety nets and spare parts need to be moved so spaces underneath can be inspected.