Procedure for stowaways in the Netherlands

Master's obligation
Check on board
Detention at the border crossing point or on board the ship
Obtaining border crossing documents
Repatriation
Ship's departure
Costs

Master's obligation

The ship's master, or the ship agent or insurance company on his behalf, is obliged to notify the border crossing point where the ship will berth of the presence of a stowaway when entering Dutch territory, that is the 12-mile zone.

Check on board

The immigration officers will board the ship immediately after berthing. They will take a short statement from the master about the presence of the stowaway. They will also take a statement from the stowaway and he will be orally refused entry into the Schengen area. The master will sign a removal order. A copy of or an extract from the ship's journal will be made.

Detention at the border crossing point or on board the ship

The stowaway will be detained at the border crossing point where the ship is berthed or will be locked up on the ship in which he arrived. The stowaway will be photographed and fingerprinted there to establish his identity. The stowaway will be issued with an order in writing specifying the room or place where he must stay. An appeal against this order may be lodged in writing.

Obtaining border crossing documents

If the stowaway does not hold a border crossing document and the shipowners or the insurance company wish to attempt to repatriate the stowaway to his country of origin by air, agreements to this effect may be made with the head of the border crossing point where the ship is berthed.

Repatriation

The insurance company or the ship agent will book a flight to the country of origin if the stowaway holds a border crossing document or once he has been issued with a border crossing document.
The stowaway will be transferred to the airport of exit (Schiphol Airport in most cases), where he will be placed on board an aircraft. Royal Marechaussee officers will escort the stowaway to the country of origin if necessary. The time of exit must in principle be within the period during which the ship is in the port.

Ship's departure

If the stowaway has not yet been repatriated when the ship is leaving the port, immigration officers will place him on board if he was detained in a place other than the ship. It will then be checked whether the stowaway actually leaves by that ship.

Costs

The costs incurred by the immigration officers such as costs of the stowaway's transfer, board and lodging and repatriation will be charged to the ship's owners, the insurance company or the ship agent.

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