Four stowaways have appeared in court on charges of attempting to hijack a Grimaldi ro-ro in the UK.
The iron bar-wielding men from Nigeria smeared faeces on the walls of the bridge and threatened to kill the crew as they tried to take control of the vessel, previously named as the 5,720-lane-metre Grande Tema (built 2014), a court heard.
The Thurrock Gazette reported the hearing as being told that violence broke out as the ship headed towards Tilbury in December.
The crew locked themselves in the bridge while the men smashed windows,
A note was passed to crew which said there would be “a big problem” if the ship was not brought closer to the shore so they could swim to dry land, the court was told.
After the alarm was raised the crack Special Boat Squadron raided the vessel.
The men had previously been charged with affray, but this was changed at Southend Magistrates’ Court.
Charges also include threats to kill and illegally entering the UK.
The men are Samuel Jolumi, 26, Ishola Sunday, 27, Toheeb Popoola, 26 and Joberto McGee, 20.
Prosecutor Lesley Chipps said: “The defendants were stowaways on a vessel, it was a working vessel.
"The crew then became aware of them and they were then secured into a room and provided food etc. The allegation is they then made good their escape from that room.
“The captain had to secure his crew into a secure room, so the crew were safe. They then approached the room with iron bars.
“The ship was off the port of Tilbury and forces had to board the ship to get them. At that point they were fully compliant when they were taken off the vessel.”
The case has been sent to a crown court and there was no bail application.
