DUTCH COURTS FINE SHIPMASTERS FOR STOWAWAYS

DUTCH COURTS FINE SHIPMASTERS FOR STOWAWAYS

   Shipmasters that transport stowaways into Dutch ports risk severe fines from Dutch legal authorities.
   Several shipmasters were recently summoned by the Dutch courts on charges of bringing stowaways into the country, said the Baltic and International Maritime Council, a group of carriers and ship agents that has been following the issue.
   In one case, a shipmaster followed the procedures of reporting stowaways to Dutch Immigration in Amsterdam before arrival. The stowaways stayed onboard the vessel while in the port and were later transferred to another vessel for repatriation to their homeland.
   Dutch Immigration pressed charges against the shipmaster under Article Six of the Dutch Aliens Act. The shipmaster was fined 1,500 Dutch guilders ($710).
   However, a local Dutch court last month overturned a similar decision against a shipmaster charged with bringing in stowaways, and BIMCO hopes that case will set a precedent other courts will follow.