Stowaways deported after entering Freeport

Twenty-three Algerian and Moroccan stowaways were deported after they entered Malta Freeport aboard a container ship from Algeria early yesterday morning.

The stowaways, all men, were caught in three separate groups.

One batch of nine Algerians were spotted roaming among the containers at the terminal. Port security personnel and immigration police managed to apprehend them after a chase between the containers and in the open spaces of the terminal.

The Algerians offered no resistance and were escorted back to the ship, the Nicola, on which they had arrived from the Algerian port of Bejaia. Aged between 25 and 30 years, they were handed over to the ship's captain and were kept under lock and key until the ship sets sail.

Another group of seven stowaways were rounded up on the ship after some of them were seen running on deck.

On board the Nicola was another group, this time of seven Moroccans, who had been discovered by the ship's crew before the ship called at Malta.

According to the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), captains are obliged to inform the authorities of the country about the presence of stowaways before entering port.

Sources close to the Freeport said, however, that the captain of the Nicola failed to notify the port authorities about the seven Moroccans.

The sources added that a report was submitted to the Malta Maritime Authority about the stowaways and about the failure of the Nicola to provide the information.

Freeport security personnel were headed by Ernest Tonna.

Earlier, the captain of another ship, the Fas Provence, which arrived during the night, declared he had four Algerian stowaways on board.

The two ships were expected to leave the Freeport yesterday. The police are investigating.