Sources indicated on 8 November 2026 that stowaways continue to present a significant security and operational risk to vessels calling at ports in West Africa, a risk underscored by two recent cases handled by the P&I club Skuld and the publication's subsequent review of prevention practice.
The report highlights that the presence of stowaways is more than an occasional nuisance; it remains a persistent threat to ship safety, commercial schedules and crew welfare. Skuld's involvement in two recent incidents served as a reminder that the problem endures despite years of attention from industry stakeholders.
Why the risk persists
Skuld's handling of the two cases, as described in the report, illustrates how stowaway incidents still arise even where mitigation measures are in place. The account notes that professional third-party security services and trained search dogs had been employed in those instances, emphasising that such measures are not infallible.
The persistence of the problem points to a need for continued vigilance by ship operators, masters and shore teams. The report stresses that detection depends on disciplined, repeatable processes rather than reliance on any single technological or contracted measure.
Thorough and systematic physical searches are singled out as central to prevention. The report calls for searches that are methodical and documented, undertaken as part of routine shipboard operations whenever a vessel calls at ports where stowaway risk is elevated.
Operational implications and practical precautions
Operators are urged to treat stowaway prevention as an operational priority on par with cargo safety and navigational security. The reports summary makes clear that gaps in search routines or procedural drift can negate the benefit of external security support.
The report's findings recommend that companies review and reinforce their onboard procedures, watchkeeping practices and pre-port arrival routines to ensure searches are comprehensive and consistently applied. Where third-party security or canine units are used, their employment should complement, not replace, shipboard measures.
A concise set of practical points emerges from the report's account:
- Stowaway incidents remain a material risk in parts of West Africa.
- Professional security services and trained dogs can reduce risk but do not eliminate it.
- Disciplined, systematic physical searches by ship personnel are essential.
The reports item offers no single technical fix; instead it underlines behavioural and procedural elements. By documenting and auditing search routines, ship operators can make better use of contracted security and canine teams and reduce the chance of oversight.
The emphasis on systematic searches is also a prompt for shore-side managers and P&I clubs to work closely with masters and crews. Skuld's involvement in the two cases demonstrates the role clubs play in incident response, and the report suggests that lessons learned should feed back into standard operating procedures across fleets.
As the industry continues to confront a shifting security environment, the report on 8 November 2026 serves as a timely reminder that basic, well-executed procedures remain among the most reliable defences. Operators calling in higher-risk regions should ensure their search practices are robust, consistently applied and subject to routine review so that the risk posed by stowaways is reduced as far as practicable.