What are the procedures to deal with stowaways ? which convention says about it ?

171
FOLLOW

stowaway convention not accepted by states , it is covered under fal app[

146
FOLLOW

1.Brussels convention 1957 dealt with stowaways,but never entered into force due to lack of support
2.The FAL Convention has clear ship/port "Preventive measures" and recommended practices on the "Treatment of stowaways while on board" and "Disembarkation and return of a stowaway". The Facilitation Committee, at its thirty seventh session (FAL 37), in 2011, adopted resolution FAL.11(37) in "Revised guidelines on the prevention of access by stowaways and the allocation of responsibilities to seek the successful resolution of stowaway cases". This resolution is particularly addressed to Member Governments which are not contracting Governments of the FAL Convention and to those Member States which find it impracticable to comply with the relevant Recommended Practices of the FAL Convention.
3.Action to be taken when you find a stowaway onboard.
IMO Guidelines lists the following responsibilities of the master in stowaway cases:
1.determine immediately the port of embarkation of the stowaway
2.establish the identity, including the nationality/citizenship of the stowaway
3.prepare a statement containing all information relevant to the stowaway,for presentation to the appropriate authorities
4.to notify the existence of a stowaway and any relevant details to his shipowner and appropriate authorities at the port of embarkation, the next port of call and the flag State
5.not to depart from his planned voyage to seek the disembarkation of a stowaway to any country unless
repatriation has been arranged with sufficient documentation and permission for disembarkation, or unless there are extenuating security or compassionate reasons
6.to ensure that the stowaway is presented to appropriate authorities at the next port of call in accordance with their requirements
7.to take appropriate measures to ensure the security, general health, welfare and safety of the stowaway until disembarkation.
Actions
The owner or manager, as appropriate, should be contacted. The owner will normally contact the P&I club’s managers to decide on a course of action. The P&I club’s correspondent serving the next port of call will normally be contacted by the club managers. The correspondent should be able to advise what information will be required by port State and other officials.
2. An entry in the Official Log Book.
3. The compartment or area in which the stowaways were found should be searched. Any documents or articles of clothing, etc. may give an indication of their place of origin.
4. The clothing of the stowaways should be searched for indications as to their origin.
5. The agent at the next port of call should be contacted and instructed to advise the appropriate authorities of the port State of the presence of stowaways on board.
6. Each stowaway found should be individually interviewed in order to establish the following details:
name of stowaway / stowaway’s date and place of birth / nationality of stowaway / name, date and place of birth of either or both of the stowaway’s parents / postal and residential address of the stowaway and either parent / stowaway’s passport or seaman’s book number, together with date and place of issue; and stowaway’s next of kin, if different from above.
7.The Stowaway Details Form The completed form should be copied by fax or e-mail to the agent and the P&I club correspondent at the next port of call.
8.Photographs of each stowaway should be taken and, transmitted to the P&I club correspondent; these may enable travel documents to be obtained more quickly on the ship’s arrival.
9.should be housed in some part of the crew accommodation which can be locked when necessary.
10.The stowaways should not be locked in their accommodation when the vessel is at sea and well clear of land unless they are considered a threat to the safety of the ship or personnel on board. Consideration should be given, however, to the possibility of unguarded stowaways launching a liferaft or boat in an attempt to reach land.
11.The stowaways should be locked securely in their accommodation when the vessel approaches any port or
nears any land.
12.The stowaways should be provided with adequate food, water, sanitary facilities, etc.
13.The stowaways should be treated in a humane manner. & should not be made to work for their keep.
14.The stowaways should not be signed on the Crew Agreement and should not be entered on any List of Crew.
15.A “Stowaway List” should be made recording any known particulars, ready for production to port officials.
16.Evidence of costs relating to the stowaway case, such as fuel, insurance, wages, stores, provisions and port charges, should be gathered to support the owner’s claim on his P&I policy.
17.Full details of all events and particulars relating to the stowaway incident should be recorded in the Official Log Book, if necessary in an annexed document.

* If stowaways are heard inside a cargo container which cannot be opened in its present stowage position:
1.Urgent efforts should be made to communicate with the stowaways, primarily in order to ascertain their
state of health. If people are trapped inside a container that cannot be opened in its present stowage position,urgent consideration should be given to diverting to the nearest port able to handle containers. (Amongst the considerations should be the time elapsed since departure from the last port of call, time to the next scheduled port, time to a possible emergency port of call.)
2.Attempts should be made to ascertain the number, ages and nationalities of the stowaways, and whether they need air, food and water (which is likely). It may be possible to drill holes in the container in order to supply air, food and water by hosepipe.
3.The container number and stowage position should be passed to the owner or manager, as appropriate, with all other relevant information, as above.