Crew holed up on Thames ship as migrants threaten staff

[sailorman]

A group of migrants has been found on a cargo container ship in the Thames Estuary and is threatening the crew, demanding to be taken to the coast.

Authorities are dealing with the ongoing incident where the group was discovered stowed away on the 236-metre long cargo ship, the Grande Tema.

Paul Kyprianou, spokesman for the Grimaldi Group shipping company, told Sky News: "We found four stowaways. The vessel was coming from Nigeria... They managed to escape from the cabin and started threatening the crew, requesting to have the vessel navigate very close to the coast... we understand they wanted to jump and reach the British coast."

He said the crew reacted and locked themselves in the bridge of the vessel and are safe, and that the stowaways are not armed but have picked up potentially harmful objects.

"They managed to get whatever they could find on the vessel... pieces of iron, tubes and things like that and this is what they used in order to threaten," Mr Kyprianou said.

"The vessel is under the command of the crew there is no question about that... the only problem is that we have four people who are free on the deck and they are threatening crew members and requesting they get close to the coast."

https://news.sky.com/story/group-of-migrants-found-in-thames-cargo-ship-sky-sources-say-11588206

 

[RupertW]

Or they took bribes to allow them on board, and now want a let out.

 

[Ladybirdgaffcutter]

Police now quoted on BBC 4, officially saying 'We are not treating it as a terrorist, hostage or piracy situation'. So what is it, exactly? It's a big ship in a crowded area, why is PC Plod from Billericay even involved? I thought the SBS were ready to deal with such threats.
In reality, the pirates (for that's what they are) will be taken to dry land, and freed to roam in the community.

 

[TheEcho]

Police now quoted on BBC 4, officially saying 'We are not treating it as a terrorist, hostage or piracy situation'. So what is it, exactly? It's a big ship in a crowded area, why is PC Plod from Billericay even involved?

PC Plod from Billericay has advised that it is merely a matter of aggressive unwelcome guests, which is a very common problem at this time of year, and the solution is to offer them some figgy pudding, keep them well away from the eggnog, and they will go home eventually.

 

[Blue Sunray]

I thought the SBS were ready to deal with such threats.

Go forth and multiply, it's block leave.

 

[capnsensible]

I thought the SBS were ready to deal with such threats.
.

And lo! it came to pass.

https://news.sky.com/story/special-forces-storm-cargo-ship-after-migrants-threatened-staff-11588563

 

[Poignard]

Excellent result. Hopefully to be followed by a spell in prison and deportation.

 

[Blue Sunray]

Excellent result. Hopefully to be followed by a spell in prison and deportation.

Na, I recon the shakies have learned their lesson and won't have put anything on video, though I would put it past some Phil Shiner lawyer type to try something on.

 

[sailorman]

Four men have been arrested after special forces stormed a cargo ship off the UK's coast, where a group of stowaway migrants had threatened staff on-board.

Special Boat Service (SBS) operatives from Sabre Squadron fast-roped from helicopters on to the ship, which had been sailing in the Thames Estuary, sources told Sky's defence and security correspondent Alistair Bunkall.

The operation lasted around 25 minutes and no one on board was injured.

Essex Police said the vessel was taken to the Port of Tilbury and four men were arrested under the Immigration Act when the ship docked just after 4.20am this morning.



https://news.sky.com/story/special-forces-storm-cargo-ship-after-migrants-threatened-staff-11588563

 

[capnsensible]

Four men have been arrested after special forces stormed a cargo ship off the UK's coast, where a group of stowaway migrants had threatened staff on-board.

Special Boat Service (SBS) operatives from Sabre Squadron fast-roped from helicopters on to the ship, which had been sailing in the Thames Estuary, sources told Sky's defence and security correspondent Alistair Bunkall.

The operation lasted around 25 minutes and no one on board was injured.

Essex Police said the vessel was taken to the Port of Tilbury and four men were arrested under the Immigration Act when the ship docked just after 4.20am this morning.



https://news.sky.com/story/special-forces-storm-cargo-ship-after-migrants-threatened-staff-11588563

Echo?

 

[Boo2]

This is the ship, right ?

What did they do with the rest of it ?

Boo2

 

[newtothis]

This is the ship, right ?

What did they do with the rest of it ?

Boo2

It's a con-ro; half boxship, half ro-ro. F'ugly as, with lines not even its mother would love, but a practical compromise on some trades.
But being a Grimalidi vessel, the crew are very well fed and the Italians don't run dry ships, so it can be forgiven some of its looks.

 

[scotty123]

Four men have been arrested after special forces stormed a cargo ship off the UK's coast, where a group of stowaway migrants had threatened staff on-board.

Special Boat Service (SBS) operatives from Sabre Squadron fast-roped from helicopters on to the ship, which had been sailing in the Thames Estuary, sources told Sky's defence and security correspondent Alistair Bunkall.

The operation lasted around 25 minutes and no one on board was injured.

Essex Police said the vessel was taken to the Port of Tilbury and four men were arrested under the Immigration Act when the ship docked just after 4.20am this morning.



https://news.sky.com/story/special-forces-storm-cargo-ship-after-migrants-threatened-staff-11588563

Good training exercise for them.

 

[Old Bumbulum]

Solve the problem by agreeing to their demands - sail close to the shore and let them jump. They'll have no idea what effect cold water will have during a 400yd swim...

 

[fisherman]

It's a con-ro; half boxship, half ro-ro. F'ugly as, with lines not even its mother would love, but a practical compromise on some trades.
But being a Grimalidi vessel, the crew are very well fed and the Italians don't run dry ships, so it can be forgiven some of its looks.

I read an account of a trip as passenger from the eastern med to Avonmouth on a Grimaldi ship. Many stops so days out, excellent food, only 15 or so passengers, and the steward made the taxi at Avonmouth drive up through the ship to the accomodation door.