that he was stowing away at Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Maurice Arthur Burrows, 37, of Parson's Road, Pembroke was charged with boarding a ship without authorised permission.

Burrows was discovered aboard the ship -- bound for New Jersey, US -- almost three hours after it had left Bermuda on Friday morning by the vessel's chief engineer.

He was handed into Police custody around 1.30 pm on Friday.

Burrows emphasised his understanding of the charge to Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King, but added:"There is more to this than meets the eye, so you're going to have to allow me, and the prosecutors, to do some work.'' It was brought to the defendant's attention that the maximum fine for the charge was $150. He then asked to change his plea to guilty.

However when Mr. King read the charge to him once more, Burrows reverted to his original not guilty plea.

Crown Counsel Wayne Caines objected to bail for Burrows. Duty Counsel Leo Mills stated to the court that the defendant was prepared to abide by reasonable bail conditions. He also said that the defendant had given an address on Parson's Road, Pembroke.

Mr. King bailed Burrows.

Burrows' trial is set for May 30.