What Crew Members Say About Eco-Napoli

On October 30, 2025, a dramatic and tragic event unfolded when two North African men attempted to flee from the roro ferry 'Stena Shipper' (IMO: 9503639) at approximately 1:30 p.m. The incident occurred while the ferry was docked in Livorno, Italy, during a scheduled inspection by the Maritime Border Police (Polmare). The young men, believed to be Tunisian nationals, had been discovered hiding inside a container aboard the ferry upon its arrival at 7 a.m. Lacking identifying documents, they initially claimed to be Moroccan, but authorities were skeptical of their narrative. Following standard protocol for stowaways, the ship's captain secured the men in a cabin. However, seizing an opportunity while the crew was distracted, the duo managed to force open the cabin door and leaped overboard into the waters between the Zara crossing and Bengasi dock. Tragically, one individual was reportedly caught in the propeller of the 'Eco Napoli', a Grimaldi ferry passing through the area at the time. Immediately following the incident, extensive rescue operations were launched by the Port Authority, involving patrol boats, divers, firefighters, and the Guardia di Finanza, all coordinated under the watchful eye of the Prefecture. Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions and low sea temperatures complicated the search efforts. Naval transit was halted, with nearby vessels like the 'MSC Agadir' trapped in port, and the 'Eco Napoli' directed to reroute instead. To add to the challenges, the search was hindered by muddied waters filled with debris from heavy rainfall in the preceding days, making visibility poor in the over 15-meter depth of the harbor. By afternoon, one body was recovered; however, the second individual remains unaccounted for. In tandem with recovery efforts, an investigation has been initiated by the Maritime Border Police and the Port Authority to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the escape and to evaluate whether the ferry adhered to all mandated safety measures for detained passengers.