And the case led to a call by Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis for the maximum fine for the offence to be increased.

Clifton Anderson, of Mullet Bay, pleaded guilty to going on board the MV Oleander without permission while it was docked in Hamilton on January 13.

Sgt. Cyril Plant prosecuting, said Anderson met three of the ship's crew members on January 10, and paid them $960. They let him board the ship on January 13.

He was later arrested by senior crew members for being on board and placed in a storage room. The next day, while the ship was docked at Port Elizabeth New Jersey, he escaped through a porthole window by tying life jacket strips together and lowering himself down.

On January 15 he came back to Bermuda and turned himself in at St. George's Police Station.

Anderson explained that he stowed away on the ship because he had encountered problems getting to the United States at the Airport.

Mr. Francis imposed the maximum fine allowed under the law -- $150 -- but said the Act needed updating.

In a separate incident, Anderson admitted speeding at 68 k.p.h. on December 6, and was fined $300 and taken off the road for 12 months.