Maritime security challenges of stowaways in Ro-Pax Vessels: an operational risk analysis in the Spanish Maritime System

The stowaway situation aboard commercial ships is an ongoing problem in the shipping industry, and it has many different aspects including operational, legal, economical and safety. This research will analyse the whole phenomenon from a multi-dimensional point of view by using data collected from Ro...

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Autores: González Almeida, José Agustín, Adrián de Ganzo, María del Cristo, Madariaga Domínguez, Ernesto|||0000-0002-0847-1152, Pacheco Jiménez, Ana, González Lorenzo, Zuleyma
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Cantabria (UC)
Repositorio:UCrea Repositorio Abierto de la Universidad de Cantabria
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:ucreareposit::63a2693d7a970622fc15828d6045ce16
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10902/40396
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Stowaways
Maritime security
ISPS code
Ro-Pax vessels
Port security
Irregular migration
Risk management
Maritime transport
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spelling Maritime security challenges of stowaways in Ro-Pax Vessels: an operational risk analysis in the Spanish Maritime SystemGonzález Almeida, José AgustínAdrián de Ganzo, María del CristoMadariaga Domínguez, Ernesto|||0000-0002-0847-1152Pacheco Jiménez, AnaGonzález Lorenzo, ZuleymaStowawaysMaritime securityISPS codeRo-Pax vesselsPort securityIrregular migrationRisk managementMaritime transportThe stowaway situation aboard commercial ships is an ongoing problem in the shipping industry, and it has many different aspects including operational, legal, economical and safety. This research will analyse the whole phenomenon from a multi-dimensional point of view by using data collected from Ro-Pax ship operations combined with the applicable international regulations and relevant academic literature. To investigate the key vulnerabilities that allow unauthorized persons to gain access to ships, especially in high-risk marine areas (Canary Islands, Strait of Gibraltar, Balearic Islands) a qualitative method based on a case study approach and document analysis was used. The study reveals that despite a large body of regulations governing access to ports (ISPS Code, FAL Convention), there exist considerable gaps between what is required formally and how those require-ments can be implemented in practice. The study also highlights that lack of effective controls over access to ports, inadequate surveillance measures and operational constraints onboard vessels create the conditions for continued occurrence of this phenomenon. Furthermore, the study emphasizes that addressing this problem requires a two-fold approach; from one side to ensure adequate protection against potential threats for ships and cargo; and from the other hand to respect human rights. Finally, recommendations are made regarding best practices to prevent unauthorized boarding and in-crease the level of cooperation among maritime actors while increasing the capacity for training crew members.Universidad de Cantabria, Escuela Técnica Superior de Náutica / Sociedad Española de Estudios Científicos Marinos (SEECMAR)Universidad de Cantabria20262026-01-01journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501NAhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_be7fb7dd8ff6fe43info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttps://hdl.handle.net/10902/40396Journal of Maritime Research, 2026, 23(1), 421-430reponame:UCrea Repositorio Abierto de la Universidad de Cantabriainstname:Universidad de Cantabria (UC)Inglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:ucreareposit::63a2693d7a970622fc15828d6045ce162026-06-02T12:39:31Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Maritime security challenges of stowaways in Ro-Pax Vessels: an operational risk analysis in the Spanish Maritime System
title Maritime security challenges of stowaways in Ro-Pax Vessels: an operational risk analysis in the Spanish Maritime System
spellingShingle Maritime security challenges of stowaways in Ro-Pax Vessels: an operational risk analysis in the Spanish Maritime System
González Almeida, José Agustín
Stowaways
Maritime security
ISPS code
Ro-Pax vessels
Port security
Irregular migration
Risk management
Maritime transport
title_short Maritime security challenges of stowaways in Ro-Pax Vessels: an operational risk analysis in the Spanish Maritime System
title_full Maritime security challenges of stowaways in Ro-Pax Vessels: an operational risk analysis in the Spanish Maritime System
title_fullStr Maritime security challenges of stowaways in Ro-Pax Vessels: an operational risk analysis in the Spanish Maritime System
title_full_unstemmed Maritime security challenges of stowaways in Ro-Pax Vessels: an operational risk analysis in the Spanish Maritime System
title_sort Maritime security challenges of stowaways in Ro-Pax Vessels: an operational risk analysis in the Spanish Maritime System
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv González Almeida, José Agustín
Adrián de Ganzo, María del Cristo
Madariaga Domínguez, Ernesto|||0000-0002-0847-1152
Pacheco Jiménez, Ana
González Lorenzo, Zuleyma
author González Almeida, José Agustín
author_facet González Almeida, José Agustín
Adrián de Ganzo, María del Cristo
Madariaga Domínguez, Ernesto|||0000-0002-0847-1152
Pacheco Jiménez, Ana
González Lorenzo, Zuleyma
author_role author
author2 Adrián de Ganzo, María del Cristo
Madariaga Domínguez, Ernesto|||0000-0002-0847-1152
Pacheco Jiménez, Ana
González Lorenzo, Zuleyma
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Universidad de Cantabria
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Stowaways
Maritime security
ISPS code
Ro-Pax vessels
Port security
Irregular migration
Risk management
Maritime transport
topic Stowaways
Maritime security
ISPS code
Ro-Pax vessels
Port security
Irregular migration
Risk management
Maritime transport
description The stowaway situation aboard commercial ships is an ongoing problem in the shipping industry, and it has many different aspects including operational, legal, economical and safety. This research will analyse the whole phenomenon from a multi-dimensional point of view by using data collected from Ro-Pax ship operations combined with the applicable international regulations and relevant academic literature. To investigate the key vulnerabilities that allow unauthorized persons to gain access to ships, especially in high-risk marine areas (Canary Islands, Strait of Gibraltar, Balearic Islands) a qualitative method based on a case study approach and document analysis was used. The study reveals that despite a large body of regulations governing access to ports (ISPS Code, FAL Convention), there exist considerable gaps between what is required formally and how those require-ments can be implemented in practice. The study also highlights that lack of effective controls over access to ports, inadequate surveillance measures and operational constraints onboard vessels create the conditions for continued occurrence of this phenomenon. Furthermore, the study emphasizes that addressing this problem requires a two-fold approach; from one side to ensure adequate protection against potential threats for ships and cargo; and from the other hand to respect human rights. Finally, recommendations are made regarding best practices to prevent unauthorized boarding and in-crease the level of cooperation among maritime actors while increasing the capacity for training crew members.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
2026-01-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv journal article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
NA
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_be7fb7dd8ff6fe43
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/10902/40396
url https://hdl.handle.net/10902/40396
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Universidad de Cantabria, Escuela Técnica Superior de Náutica / Sociedad Española de Estudios Científicos Marinos (SEECMAR)
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Universidad de Cantabria, Escuela Técnica Superior de Náutica / Sociedad Española de Estudios Científicos Marinos (SEECMAR)
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Journal of Maritime Research, 2026, 23(1), 421-430
reponame:UCrea Repositorio Abierto de la Universidad de Cantabria
instname:Universidad de Cantabria (UC)
instname_str Universidad de Cantabria (UC)
reponame_str UCrea Repositorio Abierto de la Universidad de Cantabria
collection UCrea Repositorio Abierto de la Universidad de Cantabria
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15,812429

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