Stowaways Detained On Military Cargo Ship

Via Chron.com (Houston, TX) -

BEAUMONT, Texas — Two stowaways from the Republic of Djibouti were detained for immigration violations after being discovered hiding aboard a military cargo ship.

The two men were found three weeks ago on a ship carrying military equipment to the Port of Beaumont, U.S. Coast Guard officials said. The stowaways were detected after they asked crew members for food and water.

The ship, owned by Alaska-based Tote, was headed toward the 842nd Transportation Battalion, said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. James E. Walters. The incident did not affect operations at the port, officials said.

The ship was boarded offshore and the men were taken into custody before the vessel entered the Sabine-Neches waterway.