British troops seize tanker that reported violent stowaways
- Libyan-registered ship, the Nave Andromeda, had arrived in English Channel from Lagos, Nigeria
- One expert says such stowaway incidents are likely to increase as migrants look for new ways to enter Britain
The British military seized control of an oil tanker that dropped anchor in the English Channel after reporting Sunday it had seven stowaways on board who had become violent.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel authorised the action in response to a police request, the British Ministry of Defence said. Police investigations will now continue, and initial reports confirmed the tanker’s crew was safe and well, the ministry said.
“I commend the hard work of the armed forces and police to protect lives and secure the ship,’’ Wallace said. “In dark skies and worsening weather, we should all be grateful for our brave personnel.’’
The incident began Sunday morning on the Libyan-registered tanker Nave Andromeda. The coastguard scrambled two helicopters to the scene, and authorities imposed a three-mile (4.8km) exclusion zone around the vessel.
The Nave Andromeda left Lagos, Nigeria, on October 6 and had been expected to dock in Southampton, England, at 10.30am on Sunday, according to ship tracking website MarineTraffic.com. The tanker had been circling an area about five miles (8km) southeast of Sandown on the Isle of Wight since about 10am, tracking data showed.
Chris Parry, a retired Royal Navy rear admiral who is now a fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said he suspects the stowaways grew violent as the tanker neared port, and the crew retreated to a secure area known as “the citadel” to retain control of the vessel.