TNAG-2873-FCO40-4127-Smuggling-of-Chinese-illegal-immigrants-to-the-USA-via-Hong--1993 — Page 8

M.V. "RAMAGO"

INTRODUCTION

REPORT OF PORT STATE CONTROL INSPECTION

26.6.1993

This ship was boarded in Yau Ma Tei Anchorage on the afternoon of 25 June to carry out a Port State Control inspection. The ship had been reported as having been involved in the smuggling of illegal immigrants.

INSPECTION

The condition of the ship was found to be generally good, certainly for one of her size and type i.e. below 500 g.r.t., registered in Honduras and built in Japan over 20 years ago. In particular the engine room was clean, tidy and well lit; the hatch covers were watertight; hatch coamings, deck and windlass seats were sound and the rescue boat was not a derelict. Nevertheless several defects were discovered and a list for rectification was left on board with the Master. A further copy will be faxed to the Agent. The most serious defect found was regular corrosion holes at the bottom end of the tween deck intermediate frames and corrosion holes in the tween deck itself. These together constitute a severe weakening of the side frames as their fixity at the lower end is close to zero instead of 1 which would be very serious in deep loaded conditions or in bad weather.

The real objective of the inspection, however, was to form an opinion on the ship's status with respect to the carrying of illegal immigrants. Positive indications that she had been used in the past were the fitting of steel bars with lockable doors on the Upper Deck at the sides of the aft deckhouse which, if closed, would have fortified the accommodation, to a considerable extent, from the cargo area. This impression was reinforced by the presence of an easily portable ladder from the first tier of accommodation down to the Upper Deck at the deckhouse front (Photos will be available). I was told that the ship carried fresh water in Aft Peak Tanks, which is probably excessive for

the

Fore

and

€

....

1

2

her normal sea

going consumption and a further pointer was that a clipped door from the cargo hold in the Fore Peak Store was secured shut in the store by a wire røpe tied to a pillar.

was no evidence of extra lighting or ventilation in the cargo hold, nor of food storage, cooking or toilet facilities. I was told that the ship changed ownership at Singapore which was her last port of departure.

There

CONCLUSIONS

The ship has, at some time in the past, at least been earmarked for transporting people illegally, and could easily be involved again at short notice : she is basically a very suitable ship for this trade.

A

1.2. Serak.

(H.E. Spink)

S(s)/CS

HOUSE

GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.

SAT 24 JUL 93 60:19

PG.04

3)

香港總督府

Dean Jou

GOVERNMEnt houSE

HONG KONG

23 July 1993

pa

341/3

RECEND INTCISTRY

20 JUL 1993

DESK OFFICES INDEX

REGISTRY

ction Taken

спіда In: Smuggling of Chinese

Ilegal Immigrants

As promised in our telno 1217 to PCO, I attach a copy of the speaking note on this issue left recently with the Chief Secretary by the us Consulate Genera).

Bet wishes

Mali

(M.J. Dinham)

Personal Adviser to the Governor

John Morris Esq

Hong Kong Department

Foreign & Commonwealth office

u.c.

Stephen Pattison Esq, BE, Washington Nigel Cox Esq, BE, Poking