Two Nigerian youths, aged 18 and 22, were found on the rudder blade of a ship on Monday night after a voyage that began in Lagos, Nigeria, the prior week. The pair were taken to Doctor Negrín Hospital for assessment in Las Palmas. They were kept under observation before being discharged the following morning and returned to the vessel to continue its voyage.
The two youngsters were aboard a vessel navigating a freight route between West Africa and Europe, with Palm Gran Canaria serving as a scheduled stopover. Their journey unfolded as the ship sailed through West African ports before heading toward the Canary Islands, where it paused briefly for safety and checks.
The vessel departed Lagos on July 2 and called at Lomé Port in Togo on July 4, then proceeded to Gran Canaria, arriving after 22:00 on Monday night. Since that entry, the ship continued on a nonstop route, resulting in a total of more than eight days at sea for some passengers who faced a prolonged stretch with only limited opportunities to disembark or change plans.
The incident occurred while the ship was docked at the Cristóbal Colón quay, within the OPCSA container terminal area. Search and rescue services coordinated the extraction of the youths from the tight opening on the rudder area and facilitated their transfer to shore. The operation was conducted around midnight using a Salvamar rescue boat and a zodiac craft. Local authorities, including the National Police, took charge of the youths after they were brought ashore.
Hospital care and discharge
The two teenagers were admitted to hospital for evaluation and monitoring as a precautionary measure, following standard safety protocols after unusual situations aboard a vessel. After a night under observation, they were discharged on Tuesday morning and allowed to rejoin the container ship to continue its assigned voyage, with appropriate safety checks completed before their return on board.
This incident marks a second occurrence within a short period in which an MSC container ship docked at Las Palmas Port reported youths climbing the rudder blade. Earlier, on June 17, two additional youths, aged 18 and 22, from Ivory Coast, were found aboard a vessel following a roughly six-day journey that covered about 3,800 kilometers from Abidjan to Las Palmas. Authorities responded to the scene and ensured the well-being of the individuals while the ship prepared to resume its schedule.
The owner of the largest container terminal in Gran Canaria operates regular services linking Las Palmas with Gulf of Guinea countries. In late 2022, a similar incident involved three more youths who perched on a rudder blade and arrived in Las Palmas after an 11-day voyage aboard the oil tanker Althini II, departing Lagos and proceeding to the Canary Islands. These events have prompted renewed attention to shipboard safety measures, crew training, and passenger welfare during long maritime crossings.
Authorities emphasize that while such episodes are rare, they highlight the importance of strict safety protocols for crew members and passengers alike. Maritime operators are reviewing procedures to minimize the chance of elevatorless or exposed areas on vessels being accessible during navigation, and to ensure rapid medical assessment and extraction capabilities in port calls. The public is advised to respect maritime safety warnings and to report any irregular activity near port facilities to the proper authorities for rapid response. Marked citations from port authorities and regional safety agencies confirm the sequence of events and the steps taken to safeguard those involved.