I'm looking for info on general port security around cargo ships. (really NSA this is for a children's story) My story takes place in Seattle if that makes any difference.
My MC is ten, and when things go bad at home, he has this romantic vision of stowing away on a cargo ship by mingling in with the people carrying cargo onto the ship. He goes down to the port to check out the reality and finds that:
A) most cargo is loaded via cranes in some fashion (like those large containers that travel from ports as the trailer part of tractor trailers or on the flat beds of trains.)
But, smaller items must go on these ships - not paid cargo per se, but other incidentals. - T/F?
How are those loaded?
B) Everyone going on board has some kind of ID that is checked - T/F
C) I assume he can get to the dock area to observe all this - T/F
Yes, he could 'observe' from a distance - like through a fence, but I'd like him to be able to 'scope out' alternatives, little overlooked points of entry.
D) I have him discover that there are large metal carts with heavy vinyl curtains - like the kind used to move luggage at airports - that are rolled up ramps onto ships. - Is this at least plausible? T/F
(Again, how are smaller non-cargo items brought onto the ship?)
He never carries through with this plan, so I just need to know if this is believable enough? If not, any suggestions for how he might sneak onto a ship? They don't have to be workable in reality, just seem possible from his ten year old vantage.
Thanks!
My MC is ten, and when things go bad at home, he has this romantic vision of stowing away on a cargo ship by mingling in with the people carrying cargo onto the ship. He goes down to the port to check out the reality and finds that:
A) most cargo is loaded via cranes in some fashion (like those large containers that travel from ports as the trailer part of tractor trailers or on the flat beds of trains.)
But, smaller items must go on these ships - not paid cargo per se, but other incidentals. - T/F?
How are those loaded?
B) Everyone going on board has some kind of ID that is checked - T/F
C) I assume he can get to the dock area to observe all this - T/F
Yes, he could 'observe' from a distance - like through a fence, but I'd like him to be able to 'scope out' alternatives, little overlooked points of entry.
D) I have him discover that there are large metal carts with heavy vinyl curtains - like the kind used to move luggage at airports - that are rolled up ramps onto ships. - Is this at least plausible? T/F
(Again, how are smaller non-cargo items brought onto the ship?)
He never carries through with this plan, so I just need to know if this is believable enough? If not, any suggestions for how he might sneak onto a ship? They don't have to be workable in reality, just seem possible from his ten year old vantage.
Thanks!
Last edited: