Maritime operators in West Africa are facing a severe financial burden as port authorities across the region impose escalating fines and mandatory repatriation costs for stowaways found on vessels. This comes as data confirms the region is a global hotspot for such illegal embarkations.
West Africa: A Global Stowaway Hotspot
Recent statistics paint a stark picture of the challenge. According to figures from the International Group of P&I Clubs (IGP&I) and the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS), African ports were responsible for nearly 60% of all stowaway embarkations recorded worldwide between 2019 and 2023.
Stowaways employ increasingly daring methods to board ships, hiding in empty containers, cargo holds, and even the difficult-to-access rudder areas. No vessel type is immune, with incidents reported on bulk carriers, container ships, general cargo vessels, and car carriers.
Heavy Fines and Complex Repatriation Costs
The financial repercussions for shipowners are severe and multifaceted. The China P&I Club has highlighted that authorities in most West African nations require shipping companies to bear the full cost of dealing with stowaways. These costs typically include:
- Substantial fines imposed by port and immigration authorities.
- Visa and airline ticket fees for repatriation.
- Expenses for escort personnel.
- Medical treatment costs for the stowaways.
In many cases, port officials demand prepayment of all estimated charges before allowing stowaways to disembark, and vessels can be detained until payment is secured. The IGP&I notes that the average cost per stowaway incident has now climbed to nearly $30,000, or about $10,000 per individual stowaway. Furthermore, shipowners often face additional uninsured expenses and deductibles beyond what their P&I Clubs cover.
Country-Specific Penalties Escalate Expenses
The financial demands vary by country but consistently run high. A recent circular from the BUDD Group detailed specific fees at West African ports:
In Ghana, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) levies a $5,000 fine for disembarking a non-Ghanaian stowaway. The Ghana Immigration Service adds another $5,000 penalty, bringing the total to $10,000 per stowaway.
The situation becomes exponentially more expensive with multiple stowaways, as accommodation, security, and logistics grow more complex. The group cited an extreme case in Gabon, where multiple authorities, including the Office of the Ports and Harbours Authority of Gabon and immigration officials, imposed combined fines totaling $80,000 on a single shipowner. The vessel was only permitted to sail after all repatriation costs were prepaid.
In Nigeria, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) imposes a $2,000 fine for each stowaway discovered on a ship. This policy has drawn sharp criticism from the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN).
Boma Alabi, Chairman of SAN, condemned the fine as punitive and grossly unfair. He argued that shipping companies are themselves victims of persistent security failures at Nigerian ports. Alabi revealed the scale of the problem, noting that about 15 ships berth in Nigeria annually, with an average of three stowaways apprehended on board every week, worsening frustrations for shipping lines.
Data from Africa Risk Compliance (ARC) Limited supports the view of high costs, estimating that managing stowaways in the Gulf of Guinea region averages $17,100 per incident and $6,600 per stowaway.
The growing financial strain from these policies is creating significant tension between maritime operators and West African port authorities, with shipowners calling for more shared responsibility in addressing port security lapses that allow stowaways to board in the first place.
