Police are dealing with a security incident involving a small number of stowaways aboard an oil tanker off the Isle of Wight, Sky News understands.
Sky's home affairs correspondent Mark White said: "We believe at least half a dozen stowaways were discovered at some point today.
"There are reports the crew are sheltering at certain points on the ship."
Image:Police are dealing with an 'ongoing incident' off the south coast of the Isle of Wight. Pic: MarineTraffic.com
Authorities are still trying to establish the exact circumstances of the incident.
The Nave Andromeda was due to dock in Southampton at 10.30am today and a Coastguard helicopter is circling the ship.
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A restriction zone of five nautical miles is now in place around the vessel.
Hampshire Police have also deployed their own helicopter over the Isle of Wight.
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Local MP Bob Seely has told Sky News he expects the incident will be handled by marine counter-terrorism forces and that a COBR meeting has likely either been held or is due to be held.
He said authorities are also likely to be planning how to get onto the ship.
"They will be looking at the ship's registration, who's on it, what it is carrying, how many stowaways there are, can they get in contact with the crew if they can't get in contact with the skipper," he said.
The 228-metre long ship is carrying 42,000 tonnes of crude oil and left Nigeria on 6 October before heading for Southampton.
Image:The ship had left Nigeria and was heading in the direction of Southampton. Pic: MarineTraffic.com
The vessel had made a number of zig-zags around the area just off the Isle of Wight within a couple of hours, according to Marine Traffic.
Image:The ship has been seen zig-zagging. Pic: MarineTraffic.com
If crew members are indeed sheltering on the ship, they could be on the vessel's bridge, according to Sky's Mark White.
They would be able to lock the area around the bridge to make it secure.
"It is clearly a serious incident that is unfolding," Mr White said.
"For the authorities, as well as ensuring this tanker comes into no harm, they want to make sure any other vessels around this oil tanker are safe and out of the way.
"But the top priority for the authorities is to make sure the crew are safe."
He added that the route is well-known for people smuggling - with immigrants coming from countries such as Iran, Iraq, Nigeria and Somalia - but the investigation is still in very early stages.
Image:A Coastguard helicopter has been circling the ship. Pic: MarineTraffic.com
Mr Seely said the ship is visible from the eastern coast of the Isle of Wight, but residents should not be concerned for their safety.
A Hampshire police spokesman said: "We are aware and dealing with an ongoing incident onboard a vessel which is situated south of the Isle of Wight.
"We will provide you with further updates when we are in a position to do so."
The Coastguard confirmed it is assisting police, and search and rescue helicopters from Lee on Solent and Lydd are attending the incident.
A spokeswoman for Associated British Ports (ABP) said it had no comment on the incident, but PA news agency understands the port received contact from the ship although had not been refused entry to the harbour.
Home Secretary Priti Patel is being kept informed about the incident, according to Sky's political correspondent Joe Pike.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson has confirmed there is no military involvement as of yet.
In December 2018, British forces stormed an Italian cargo ship and regained control after stowaways threatened crew members as it sailed in the Thames Estuary.
British Transport Police caused outrage after sharing a photo of officers carrying out spot checks on train passengers
They later deleted the tweet and attempted to clarify their actions - but were met with further fury
Twitter users have accused the force of 'shameful' behaviourCredit: Twitter
The tweet read: "We are checking if your journey is essential! Please stay at home!"
It comes as:
But after a huge backlash, officers deleted it altogether - and posted a string of clarifications.
They said: "Right folks - the last tweet generated a fair amount of comment so let's put a few things straight.
"Wales is on lockdown. You should not be out without a reasonable excuse.
"It is our job to enforce the current regulations. We did this throughout the previous lockdown too.
"This means asking why people are travelling.
"Tonight, everyone we have spoken to has been travelling legitimately.
"The lockdown is there to stop the spread of this virus. We all need to do our bit.
"Only those who think the rules don't apply to them and selfishly break them, need to be worried about being spoken to by us.
Wales started a 17-day firebreak lockdown on Friday evening that has seen all non-essential shops shut
There has already been anger in the country over a decision to ban the sale of all 'non-essential' goods - including children's clothes
Now the police checks have caused further fury
Dozens of people have shared their anger with the offices
Meanwhile, one Twitter user wondered aloud what the Welsh for 'prat' is - and was swiftly told it's 'Drakeford', the surname of the country's beleaguered First Minister
A dad tried to go into Tesco in just his pants amid the furore over what counts as essential
Major roads in the country have fallen silent as the Welsh government bans all unnecessary travel
"We want this virus to go away as much as everyone else. We all need to do our bit to achieve that."
However, social media users have called the incident "shameful".
One said: "As a retired police officer I would feel very uneasy at the way you are dealing with this.
"Moreover your manner in these tweets is very confrontational and sounds very political. You will lose the public on this."
Another said: "No sane person wants to be treated like this.
"The way the police are behaving is a disgrace."
A third said: "Want this virus to 'go away'?
"We keep being reminded that this virus is here to stay. How does anyone think it's magically going away?"
The sale of electrical items including toasters and kettles have been banned under the lockdown
Baby clothes have been cordoned off using metal barriers in some stores
One Twitter user spotted cleaning products had been taped off too
Food shops, off-licences, pharmacies, banks and post offices are allowed to remain open.
And today, it's been confirmed that Welsh ministers are considering another firebreak in January or February.
Deputy minister for economy and transport Lee Waters told BBC Radio Wales Sunday Supplement programme: “This is not the last lockdown we are going to see.
“The projections and papers we published on our worse-case scenario projections show it is likely we are going to need another firebreak in January or February.”
However, First Minister Mark Drakeford - who has been labelled 'power mad' by a Tory MP - said: "It is a straightforward matter of fairness - we are in this together here in Wales.
"No individual and no organisation is above the effort that we are all required to make.
"That includes people who may believe that they themselves are beyond the law, and includes those organisations that are large and powerful."
So, what does count as 'essential' in Wales?
Welsh people can buy products that would normally sold in:
Food and drink retailers (including off licences)
Newsagents
Building supplies and hardware stores
Pharmacies and chemists
Bicycle shops
Petrol stations
Garages and vehicle hire businesses
Post offices, banks, building societies and similar
Pet shops
Agricultural and aquacultural supplies shops
Livestock markets and auctions
Batteries, light bulbs and rubber gloves may continue to be sold.
The rules state: "Businesses which would normally sell a range of products in their stores may only sell those items which fall into the categories above.
"This is likely to mean some areas of stores should be closed to customer access. It will be important though for such stores to manage access to different categories of goods in a way that ensures customers and staff can circulate safely within the store.
"Some products may need to remain available to avoid creating unnecessary constraints on a mixed product aisle to the safe circulation of customers."
More than 50,000 people have now signed the largest-ever Senedd petition contesting the rules on 'non-essential goods'.
Now Mr Drakeford has confirmed the rule will be reviewed next week.
He said: "We’ll be reviewing how the weekend has gone with the supermarkets and making sure that common sense is applied.
"Supermarkets can sell anything that can be sold in any other type of shop that isn't required to close.
"In the meantime, please only leave home if you need to."
Andrew RT Davies, the Conservative shadow health minister, tweeted this week: "The power is going to their heads."
He later added: "Is a flagon of Strongbow deemed essential? What about some much-needed underpants if you're caught short?
"I do hope there is some published guidance on what the Labour commissars deem as essential."
Policing Covid rules getting harder because Brits are tired of lockdown restrictions, top cop admits
A senior Tory has said the party has to "admit we've misunderstood the mood of the country" over the extension free schools - adding the government will probably have to "think again" after voting against the move.
Sir Bernard Jenkin, Conservative chairman of the liaison committee, made the remarks as pressure builds on Boris Johnson to perform a U-turn on the issue.
Sir Bernard told the Sky News breakfast show Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "We have to admit we've misunderstood the mood of the country here... the public want to see the government taking a national lead on this, and I think the government will probably have to think again on that."
He added: "I think when you've got the chairman of the education select committee not supporting the government on this, and he's a Conservative, I think the government has to listen to the Conservative Party."
Sir Bernard was absent from the vote on free school meals but said he would have supported the government's position.
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However, he added if there was another vote he would "wait to see what the government says and how they respond to the situation".
The Labour Party has threatened to bring the issue back to the House of Commons if Mr Johnson does not relent.
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Anne Longfield, the children's commissioner, told Sophy Ridge on Sunday she thinks the government should extend the free school meals scheme.
She added: "I've been horrified by the debate, really disappointed about the debate over recent days.
"We're a wealthy country, it's 2020, and to have a debate to make sure hungry and vulnerable children should have enough to eat, is strikingly similar to what we would expect to see in chapters of Oliver Twist."
In relation to the possibility of the government performing a U-turn on the issue, Ms Longfield added: "I want this government to move from something that is a possibility and a discussion to something which is real."
It comes as more than 2,000 paediatricians have signed a letter telling the prime minister that childhood hunger should "transcend politics".
Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, defended the government's position on Sophy Ridge on Sunday.
He said: "Our policy on this is the right position because we are looking to deal with child poverty at the core."
Mr Lewis also said £63m was in place for local authorities to support people who are struggling.
Members of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: "Few would disagree that one of our most basic human responsibilities is to ensure children have enough to eat.
"We call on the UK government to match the pledges of the Welsh and Scottish governments and the Northern Ireland Executive, to continue to provide children from low-income backgrounds with free meals over the coming weeks and to then extend this at least until the Easter school holiday, as they have done in Wales and Scotland."
The organisation also praised Marcus Rashford, 22, for his "powerful" work on the issue.
Image:Boris Johnson voted against extending the scheme
The Manchester United footballer, who was given free school meals when he was a child, has been campaigning on behalf of the 1.3 million children who are eligible for the scheme.
His petition, which calls for various measures to end child food poverty, is closing in on 800,000 signatures.
In June, he forced a government U-turn, which resulted in the meals being extended to cover the summer holidays.
Councils from both sides of the political spectrum joined businesses such as cafes and restaurants, many of them struggling financially due to the pandemic, in stepping up with offers of free meals for children in need.
They were encouraged by Rashford, who posted their efforts on his social media accounts.
Labour has said it will force another vote in the Commons if the government does not change its policy before the Christmas recess and extend free school meals during the school holidays until Easter 2021.
Shadow education secretary Kate Green called on Mr Johnson to meet Rashford's taskforce "as a matter of urgency" and even some of Mr Johnson's Conservative colleagues have said he should reconsider his stance.
Robert Halfon said meeting Rashford was a "no-brainer" and Tobias Ellwood said extending the meals over the holidays was a "simple and practical vehicle" to support families, adding that the government should "revisit" the issue.
Regarding the community effort to help feed vulnerable children, a Number 10 spokesman said: "I believe the PM said during PMQs that free school meals will continue during term time and that he wants to continue to support families throughout the crisis so they have cash available to feed kids if they need to."
