STOWAWAY PROBLEM AREAS

The first chart was produced using information that has been collected over the past nine years, and highlights the long-term trends in stowaway nationalities according to Robmarine data. The second chart however, is based on information gained since the beginning of 1999, and therefore represents this years high-risk areas. Beside each chart is a list of countries in order of risk with icons which highlight changes in stowaway numbers ( - increase, - decrease, - contsant).

Long-Term

(1989 - 1998)

Tanzania Morocco Ghana Nigeria Liberia Algeria DR Congo Ethiopia Guinea Cameroon

There has been little change in the long-term trends in stowaway movements over the past year, with Tanzania, Morocco, Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia remaining the five most dangerous areas in the world. Despite increased fines and prison sentences for deported Tanzanian Nationals the country remains a hot spot for migrants. Recent outbreaks of violence in Sierra Leone have caused growing unrest in West Africa, maintained Liberia's presence in the above table, and lead to the appearance of Guinea as a high-risk area.

The former Yugoslavia, previously the only European country to enter the above table, is no longer listed, possibly due to the improved relations between Bosnia and Slovenia.

Despite the fact that there have been vast numbers of Romanian's entering the United Kingdom the majority of them arrive via the Chunnel and cross Channel ferries, for which we presently have no figures.

Short-Term

(January  1999 - December 1999)

Tanzania Iraq Morocco DR Congo Liberia Kenya Sierra Leone Algeria Nigeria Ghana

There has been little change in the above table during the year with Tanzania, Iraq, Morocco and the Democratic Republic of the Congo remaining the most high-risk stowaway areas around the world. September did see a slight change in statistics with Liberia, Kenya and Ghana showing increases in stowaway activity. In general however, the main source of stowaways in 1999 has changed little from the long term chart above, and whilst activity was still rife, the numbers were down slightly on the previous year.

To see figures for 1998 please click here.