Stowaways Ride On Ship’s Rudder for 11 Days

[HeywoodJ]

Three stowaways rode sitting on the top of a ship’s rudder for 11 days from Lagos, Nigeria to the Canaries.



https://www.reuters.com/world/africa...sh-2022-11-29/

And evidently it’s not the first time:

In October 2020, four people stowed away on the rudder of a tanker from Lagos. They were discovered by police in Las Palmas.

Any of my boating (or any other for that matter) problems seem trivial.

[Jim Cate]

Seems that with that experience they would make good rail meat on a fast raceboat!

Makes steerage class seem quite luxurious!

Jim

[RaymondR]

I've been on vessels where you'd ride down there to get away from the cockroaches.

[fourlyons]

I'd be afraid the stern wave would wash me off. Maybe most ships don't ever run at hull speed?

[Baby tug]

I hope they made it and had a good life

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Seems that with that experience they would make good rail meat on a fast raceboat!

Makes steerage class seem quite luxurious!

Jim

Actually, I think that would be a real "steerage" class

[valhalla360]

Seems like there is more to the story.

Wouldn't an oil tanker from Nigeria typically be loaded with oil (fully submerging the rudder)...yet the water line suggests she's essentially empty.

Were they lashed to the rudder stock? I see no sign of ropes securing them, food, water or other resourses. Over 11 days, I would think at least one stray wave would have washed them off.

I wonder if the captain was doing a bit of human smuggling and lowered them overboard just before entering port and now is playing dumb so as not to get in trouble?

[Baby tug]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Seems like there is more to the story.

Wouldn't an oil tanker from Nigeria typically be loaded with oil (fully submerging the rudder)...yet the water line suggests she's essentially empty.

Were they lashed to the rudder stock? I see no sign of ropes securing them, food, water or other resourses. Over 11 days, I would think at least one stray wave would have washed them off.

I wonder if the captain was doing a bit of human smuggling and lowered them overboard just before entering port and now is playing dumb so as not to get in trouble?

Are you kidding me , no that is desperation , doesn’t anybody have any sympathy for humanity

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Baby tug

Are you kidding me , no that is desperation , doesn’t anybody have any sympathy for humanity

I don't doubt they were desperate and I never suggested sympathies against them.

I am questioning the story of how they arrived.

A captain/crew involved in human smuggling dropping them down onto the rudder just before port is still plenty despicable.

[Chotu]

Yeah it is a little questionable. Because how would they have enough water to live? I don’t see any supplies on there. I don’t even see room for supplies.

[CaptTom]

Apparently there's a fairly large compartment above the rudder and around the post, where the steering gear is located. I've personally never seen that space, but from what I hear it's not uncommon to have stowaways there. My question is why they came out in broad daylight.

[flee27]

Either way it is sad that people have to live in such a way that creates the level of desperation that some have.

I pray one day it will be different. All of this while we go to these forums to talk about our first world problems. My last post was trying to decide which brand to spends thousands with for an electronic upgrade. I don't think we should feel quilt about what we have and our way of life. But I do think things like this should be used to help us keep perspective and maybe try a little harder to make a positive difference in others lives.

Foster

[Baby tug]

Originally Posted by flee27

Either way it is sad that people have to live in such a way that creates the level of desperation that some have.

I pray one day it will be different. All of this while we go to these forums to talk about our first world problems. My last post was trying to decide which brand to spends thousands with for an electronic upgrade. I don't think we should feel quilt about what we have and our way of life. But I do think things like this should be used to help us keep perspective and maybe try a little harder to make a positive difference in others lives.

Foster

Thank you

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by flee27

Either way it is sad that people have to live in such a way that creates the level of desperation that some have.

I pray one day it will be different. All of this while we go to these forums to talk about our first world problems. My last post was trying to decide which brand to spends thousands with for an electronic upgrade. I don't think we should feel quilt about what we have and our way of life. But I do think things like this should be used to help us keep perspective and maybe try a little harder to make a positive difference in others lives.

Foster

Voting for honest Law Makers would be a good start instead of keeping the Stock Traders in office..
Might get fewer corporations able to rip off the Third World.

[gonesail]

Originally Posted by fourlyons

I'd be afraid the stern wave would wash me off. Maybe most ships don't ever run at hull speed?

then get sucked into the prop