IMO: INCREASE SEEN IN STOWAWAYS IN AFRICAN, EUROPEAN PORTS

IMO: INCREASE SEEN IN STOWAWAYS IN AFRICAN, EUROPEAN PORTS    The International Maritime Organization has seen a tremendous increase in the number of stowaways boarding vessels in African and European ports, compared to American and Asian ports.
   The London-based organization has reported 142 incidents involving about 500 stowaways since its last report in September.
   Reports of incidents have been received from Belgium, Denmark, India, Norway, the United Kingdom, the International Chamber of Shipping and the Baltic and International Maritime Council.
   Asian and American reports reported about a dozen stowaway cases during the past six months.
   The stowaway issue is receiving attention of the IMO’s Facilitation Committee, which is drafting proposed text for enforceable stowaway regulations.