An oil and chemical ship, Alithini II, traveled for 11 days from Lagos, Nigeria to the Canary Islands. During the journey, no one noticed that three Nigerian stowaways were positioned on the rudder of the ship.
The ship departed from Lagos, Nigeria on November 17 and arrived on Monday, November 28. It is an almost 3,000 mile journey.
Spain’s Maritime Rescue Services reported that they successfully rescued the three men. They appeared to be disoriented, dehydrated, and displayed signs of hypothermia after traveling for more than a week under the ship. All three were immediately brought to the port and were taken to a hospital in Gran Canaria.
Two of the men have been deported back to Nigeria and one is still recovering in the hospital.
According to Sofia Hernandez, head of the service coordination center in Las Palmas, they have experienced six similar cases in the last two years. Being in the rudder leaves these migrants in a very dangerous position, as the waterline level adjusts to the weight of the cargo. The changing weather and sea condition are also things that should be considered.
Due to poverty, conflict, and the lack of job opportunities in their home countries, the highest number of migrants have continued to flock to Europe in the last five years. The Canary Islands, which is part of Spain, has seen a 51% spike in sea migration this year compared to 2021. Out of the 20,000 West African migrants recorded last year, 1,100 unfortunately died in transit. These migrants have braved the seas, traveling in dangerous ways to escape their previous lives and start a new life.