Two Nigerian men have survived for more than a week balanced on the rudder of a ship that sailed from Lagos to Spain.
The Spanish coastguard rescued the two men after they arrived the Canary Islands, took them to hospital before sending them back to the ship for deportation, authorities said.
Under Spanish law, a stowaway who does not to seek asylum must be sent back to port from which the journey started, through the same vessel.
– Perilous point of entry
The Canary Islands, owned by Spain, are a well-known yet perilous point of entry for African migrants striving to reach Europe.
Last year, three Nigerian stowaways were found on an oil tanker’s rudder after an 11-day ocean voyage from Lagos to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. The men later sought asylum and were not immediately returned.
In the latest case, the two men were rescued on Monday night in the port of Las Palmas after travelling from Lagos through Togo to reach the island. The distance between the ports is roughly 4,600 kilometers.
Las Palmas maritime police shared a video and photos on Twitter, showing two stowaways who were found crouched on the rudder beneath the hull of the MSC Marta, barely above the waterline.
A spokesperson from the Guardia Civil police confirmed that the individuals were 19 and 22 years old.
The ship left Lagos, Nigeria, on July 2 and made a stop in Togo on July 4, as reported by the local newspaper La Provincia. This suggests that the migrants had been onboard for a minimum of seven days.
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