Sixteen people discovered in sealed trailer on ferry, Stena Line confirm

All are reportedly in good health on board the ferry, which is set to arrive at Rosslare later.

In a statement, Ian Hampton, Stena Line’s chief people and communications officer, said an employee discovered the people during a routine inspection.

He said: “During the Stena Horizon’s 9pm sailing from Cherbourg, France, to Rosslare in the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday November 20, one of our employees during a routine inspection discovered 16 people in a sealed trailer on the vehicle deck.

“All the individuals are reported to be in good health and have been moved to a private passenger lounge on the ship where their wellbeing is the focus of our employees.

“Stena Line has alerted security and immigration officials in Rosslare so as the necessary arrangements can be made for the group on the vessel’s arrival in Rosslare.

“The vessel is scheduled to arrive at approximately 3.30pm today.”

It is understood that Irish police control immigration at Rosslare port and will meet the ferry as it docks.

Officers are expected to board the vessel and carry out assessments and searches of the container.

A source inside the Irish government told the PA news agency that officials in the Justice Department were only made aware of the incident after media reports.

Opposition party Fianna Fail’s spokesman on justice Jim O’Callaghan expressed his shock and demanded a full investigation into the incident.

“A full investigation must be launched into the discovery of up to 16 people being transported in the back of a lorry to Ireland,” he said.

“Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery and needs to be tackled with fully resourced policing.

“Recent events show unfortunately Ireland is playing a significant part in this crime. These traffickers have to be thoroughly policed so vulnerable people are protected.”

The incident comes just days after a group of 25 people were found inside a refrigerated container on board a UK-bound ship just off the coast of the Netherlands.

Last month, 39 people were found dead inside a container in Essex which had arrived in the UK via a ferry from Zeebrugge, Belgium.