(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) The issue of stowaways in Africa, particularly along the West African coast, has become a growing concern for the maritime industry. Increasing numbers of individuals, often desperate for better opportunities, are clandestinely boarding vessels—especially container ships—in ports like Lagos and Tema. This trend poses serious legal, financial, and safety challenges for shipowners and port authorities alike. Owners have a clear interest in preventing stowaways from coming onboard, and boarding vessels at African ports remains one of the stowaways' most commonly used methods. The adoption of the ISPS Code by many West African states has not yet been effective in avoiding stowaways. Over the past five years, the following are of importance: The number of stowaways per attempt has increased. Previously often solitary or in pairs, today, many cases of stowaways involve several people, often four or five, who do not have specific connections with one another. The main departure ports or areas are often Nigeria or Ghana. Container ships remain most exposed to this risk. Climbing aboard vessels often occurs at the port through connections with company employees authorised to board the ship during its call. Embarkation can occur as the ship departs the port, with stowaways using a speedboat to board. They often reach the rudder and attempt to open and hide in the upper rudder compartment. The use of fishing boats to try to board ships once at sea. Stowaways increasingly have financial demands regarding their repatriation, permitting them to doubt their real intention. Authorities at specific ports are quick to assist shipowners with the various formalities related to disembarking these stowaways, while others continue to categorically refuse any disembarkation in their ports, claiming that the IMO statistics record the port of disembarkation and not the country of origin of the stowaways, thus these statistics work against the good image of these port