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Crew 'unaware' of dead stowaways | Crew 'unaware' of dead stowaways |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The crew of a cargo ship docked at Ayr harbour had "no knowledge" of two dead men who were discovered on board, police have said. | The crew of a cargo ship docked at Ayr harbour had "no knowledge" of two dead men who were discovered on board, police have said. |
Crew on board The Pascal found the bodies in the middle hold of the 90m-long ship on Monday afternoon. | Crew on board The Pascal found the bodies in the middle hold of the 90m-long ship on Monday afternoon. |
Sources have told the BBC that the men were found with one bottle of water. | Sources have told the BBC that the men were found with one bottle of water. |
The men are believed to be a different nationality from the mostly Russian crew. It is thought they stowed away before the ship left Tunisia on 15 May. | The men are believed to be a different nationality from the mostly Russian crew. It is thought they stowed away before the ship left Tunisia on 15 May. |
Det Insp Jim Honeyman of Strathclyde Police said: "Our investigation will focus on who the men are and how they boarded the ship. | Det Insp Jim Honeyman of Strathclyde Police said: "Our investigation will focus on who the men are and how they boarded the ship. |
"The nine crew members, mostly Russian, have been interviewed with the aid of interpreters but have no knowledge of the deceased. | "The nine crew members, mostly Russian, have been interviewed with the aid of interpreters but have no knowledge of the deceased. |
Police spokesman on the likely cause of death | |
"It is believed that they boarded the ship whilst it was loading its cargo in Tunisia. | |
"We will be liaising with immigration and the Tunisian authorities in an effort to identify these individuals. At this time there is nothing to suggest criminality." | "We will be liaising with immigration and the Tunisian authorities in an effort to identify these individuals. At this time there is nothing to suggest criminality." |
Police received a call about the discovery from C A Mair Shipping at about 1440 BST on Monday. | Police received a call about the discovery from C A Mair Shipping at about 1440 BST on Monday. |
The men's bodies were then located and rescue teams began a thorough search of the rest of the ship. | The men's bodies were then located and rescue teams began a thorough search of the rest of the ship. |
Three fire engines, four ambulances and a police underwater rescue team were involved in the harbour-side operation. | Three fire engines, four ambulances and a police underwater rescue team were involved in the harbour-side operation. |
Fire crews were lowered in to the hold of the 3,000-tonne Antigua-registered ship via a turntable ladder. | Fire crews were lowered in to the hold of the 3,000-tonne Antigua-registered ship via a turntable ladder. |
'Great tragedy' | 'Great tragedy' |
The bodies were recovered just before midnight. | The bodies were recovered just before midnight. |
A post-mortem examination will be held later to determine the exact cause of the men's deaths. | A post-mortem examination will be held later to determine the exact cause of the men's deaths. |
Conservative MSP for Ayr John Scott described the discovery as a "great tragedy". | Conservative MSP for Ayr John Scott described the discovery as a "great tragedy". |
He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that translators had been brought in to talk to the Russian crew. | He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that translators had been brought in to talk to the Russian crew. |
Mr Scott added: "Sadly people feel the need to migrate from their own countries and sometimes when they stow away, they don't make it. | Mr Scott added: "Sadly people feel the need to migrate from their own countries and sometimes when they stow away, they don't make it. |
"As I understand it, the cargo holds were sealed when this boat left Africa and these bodies were discovered when it arrived in Ayr - obviously that's a long sea journey and it would certainly be cold a lot of the time. | "As I understand it, the cargo holds were sealed when this boat left Africa and these bodies were discovered when it arrived in Ayr - obviously that's a long sea journey and it would certainly be cold a lot of the time. |
"The community have been left saddened and shocked by what has happened." | "The community have been left saddened and shocked by what has happened." |
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