SEAFARERS are being detained in Egypt for carrying prohibited items, such as drones and electronic devices, reports Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide.
A seafarer was travelling from abroad to join his ship in Port Suez, Egypt when the local coast guard detained him for illegally carrying a drone in his luggage.
The seafarer had no criminal intent. The drone was to be used for work-related tasks such as hull inspections and for taking private photos while at sea.
Egypt enforces a stringent drone law that regulates the manufacture, trade, and use of drones but also makes it illegal to import and possess drones without a permit issued by the Ministry of Defence.
Anyone who violates this law faces the risk of imprisonment of up to seven years and hefty monetary fines.
Many ship agents are good at warning ship operators of local restrictions that apply to seafarers in transit.
However, every seafarer is responsible for checking the international travel information for their destination to find out what is prohibited.
Local Egyptian authorities are also suspicious of other types of electronic equipment that come across as unusual.
Even if the device is not prohibited by law, it may take the police some time until they are sure it is not prohibited.
SeaNews Turkey
A seafarer was travelling from abroad to join his ship in Port Suez, Egypt when the local coast guard detained him for illegally carrying a drone in his luggage.
The seafarer had no criminal intent. The drone was to be used for work-related tasks such as hull inspections and for taking private photos while at sea.
Egypt enforces a stringent drone law that regulates the manufacture, trade, and use of drones but also makes it illegal to import and possess drones without a permit issued by the Ministry of Defence.
Anyone who violates this law faces the risk of imprisonment of up to seven years and hefty monetary fines.
Many ship agents are good at warning ship operators of local restrictions that apply to seafarers in transit.
However, every seafarer is responsible for checking the international travel information for their destination to find out what is prohibited.
Local Egyptian authorities are also suspicious of other types of electronic equipment that come across as unusual.
Even if the device is not prohibited by law, it may take the police some time until they are sure it is not prohibited.
SeaNews Turkey
