and leaping to freedom when it reached New Jersey.

It is believed the man was desperate to reach his parents in America, but was banned from entering the country because he was wanted for questioning by Florida police.

The 25-year-old St. George's man sneaked onto the Oleander container ship when it made its regular call at Hamilton.

He disguised himself as a crewman but was discovered and locked in a cabin by the captain, who planned to take him back to the Island.

When the ship reached Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, the stowaway made a rope out of life jackets and jumped to the pier, 25-feet below.

The incident was confirmed yesterday by Mr. Robert (Skippy) Lewis, senior vice-president at Container Ship Management.

"He got onto the ship somehow in Bermuda last week, which was probably pretty easy to do. He put on the crew's clothing and he must have been hiding in the forward end of the ship.

"When it sailed and he figured he was far enough out of Bermuda, he came out on deck.

"He was found about 100 miles north of Bermuda. He was spotted because he was very dark and most of our crew are Filipino. He stood out.

"The captain has the power of arrest on the ship. He was kept under guard and put in a cabin.

"I think the intention was for them to hold him and bring him back to Bermuda.'' Mr. Lewis said the man did not give his correct name at first, but it was later discovered.

When the Oleander arrived at Port Elizabeth he was interviewed by US officials, who would not let him in the country.

At about 3.30 a.m. on Thursday the stowaway escaped. He tied life-jacket straps together to form a rope eight to ten feet long, which helped him make the 25-foot drop to the pier.

"My understanding is that his mother and father moved to the States just recently, and he was trying to reach them. I should think he's in the States somewhere now.'' Mr. Lewis said he could only recall one other stowaway trying to leave Bermuda, instead of trying to get here.

Bermuda Police spokeswoman Sgt. Roseanda Jones said the force was aware of the incident. Stowing away was an offence, she said.

The stowaway's name has not been released.