them trying to disembark from a ship in Hamilton Harbour.

The men, aged 20 and 24, were discovered clinging to the rudder post of the car boat California Highway , which arrived on the Island yesterday afternoon after setting sail from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

The two men went without food or water during the four-day journey.

As they tried to get off, they were quickly spotted and caught.

A Customs official confirmed the men had been hiding in the stern of the vessel throughout the journey.

"Dock workers spotted the two men as they were trying to get off and they were quickly apprehended,'' he said.

The men were detained on board while the ship unloaded its cargo. The vessel set sail for the Dominican Republic via the Bahamas last night.