Extra security measures have now been taken in the port of Ostend.  The aim is to prevent migrants hoping to stowaway to the UK from getting into ships bound for Great Britain. At the end of last month, for the first time in a decade, a freight vessel lestend bound for England. Four migrants tried to climb on board but failed. The maritime police detained one individual.

The MS Finnpulp was bound for the English port of Grimsby. The Flemish port authorities were jubilant about this first trip by a freight vessel between Ostend and England in a decade. People smugglers too appeared to be aware of the sailing. During the night four migrants tried to climb onto the vessel and stowaway.

“Our security systems worked perfectly,” says Dirk Declerck, managing director at the Port of Ostend. “Over the past few years we invested heavily in a four-metre-high fence with barbed wire and a camera surveillance system. As a result, the four people who tried to reach the ship last week did not succeed.”

“Our surveillance people saw them and called in the maritime police”.

Taskforce

Years ago, when there were still regular sailings between Ostend and Britain, migrants trying to get onto ships at night posed a problem. In the meantime, big investments in security have been made.

“Our message is clear,” says Dirk Declerck. “Ostend is not the place to be if you want to make a crossing to the UK as an illegal migrant. There is very heavy surveillance. It won’t work here. This has now been clearly demonstrated.”

“We set up a task force with the local and maritime police to ensure that also in Ostend, migrants cannot board ships heading for the UK. We have a very close relationship with the police. We also reach out to the West Flanders public prosecutor’s office and the immigration department to join us in doing the maximum to stop illegal migration.”