Stowaway – Yachting Term Explained

A stowaway pertains to an individual who illegally boards a ship without obtaining the necessary permission or without making any payment. This person usually carries out this act stealthily so as not to be spotted, and remains concealed within the ship for the duration of its voyage. The aim of such an individual is often to disembark or 'jump ship' shortly before the ship enters port, or just upon reaching a dock, hence remaining undetected. However, there are instances when the presence of the stowaway is discovered during the course of the ship's journey. In such situations, the trespasser is typically confined in the ship's prison, known as the brig, until the ship arrives at its destination. Upon reaching port, the stowaway is then handed over to the local police or military authorities for their subsequent prosecution. This illegal act can carry serious consequences, depending on the specific rules and regulations imposed by the ship's jurisdiction and that of the intended port of arrival.

What does this mean when booking a yacht?

1. On their journey from the Netherlands to New York, the captain of the cargo ship discovered a stowaway hiding in one of the shipping containers. He had boarded the ship in Amsterdam port undetected and was planning to disembark when they reached the USA until he got caught. 2. In a famous episode during the 20th century, an African man named Nando was found to be a stowaway on a ship traveling from Angola to Brazil. He had managed to sneak aboard without being seen and planned to escape from the ship once it reached Brazil, hoping to start a new life there. 3. There was a notorious incident in which a teenage boy hid aboard a luxury cruise ship heading for the Caribbean. The boy, a stowaway, had successfully slipped into the ship from Miami port and was planning to venture out when the ship made dock in Jamaica. However, he was discovered by the crew before reaching the port and locked up in the brig. 4. During the Second World War, numerous stowaways were found on ships transporting soldiers and supplies. They were usually people looking for a way to escape the war-torn countries without being detected. Once found, they were imprisoned in the ship's brig until reaching the port where they were handed over to local authorities. 5. A young woman named Maria was renowned in her town for stowing away on a merchant vessel originating from her town in Greece, hoping to escape poverty and create a new life for herself in one of the European cities. However, she was found by the crew mid-journey and had to spend the rest of the trip in the brig before she was handed over to the authorities upon reaching the port.

Interesting fact

Fun Fact: In 1928, an adventurous young New Zealander named Harry Willis stowed away on an Antarctic expedition ship called "Discovery." Willis was only 19 years old and intended to join the crew without permission. Hiding in the ship's hold, surviving only on ship biscuits and water, he initially managed to evade detection. However, eventually the smell of his pipe smoke gave him away and the ship's crew found him. Instead of being imprisoned in the brig, Willis was put to work to earn his keep on the Discovery. Incredibly, he ended up staying with the expedition team in the Antarctic for two years, assisting the group on a pioneering scientific exploration. His act of triumph emphasizes the rich history of stowaways and their determination to hitch a ride on marine vessels, giving us an interesting insight into human audacity.

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