Three Ghanaian nationals were discovered hiding aboard the MV Great Sheng Wen, a coal-laden cargo ship, at India’s Paradip Port in Odisha on August 30, 2024. The individuals were found in a restricted area of the port, prompting immediate action from port authorities. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has since taken the men into custody, with suspicions that they may be stowaways.
The crew of the MV Great Sheng Wen, a Hong Kong-flagged Chinese bulk carrier, discovered the three men while the ship was anchored at Paradip Port. The vessel had arrived with a coal shipment from Russia for ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India. Authorities noted that the ship’s crew consists of 20 members, none of whom are Ghanaian, raising questions about how and when the three individuals managed to board the ship.
In response to the situation, the Immigration Department has issued instructions to the vessel, barring it from deboarding the individuals at any Indian port. The ship has been ordered to unload its cargo and leave Paradip Port as soon as possible. An investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the stowaways’ presence, including their intended destination and how they accessed the ship. Authorities suspect that the individuals may have boarded the vessel in Africa before it set sail for India.
Security has been tightened around the vessel as the CISF and port officials continue their inspections. The investigation aims to uncover more details about the intent of the three individuals and the mysterious circumstances under which they boarded the ship.
