NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A cargo ship that U.S. authorities thought might be carrying stowaways is due to leave Port Newark in New Jersey on Friday after a search of more than 160 sealed containers turned up no one.
The Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that a search triggered by a reported knocking sound had ended with no stowaways found. The agency refused to answer questions about what may have caused the false alarm.
Federal authorities used X-ray machines and dogs in their search of the 850-foot ship in Newark, one of the nation's busiest ports.
The Coast Guard had said a boarding team on a routine inspection early Wednesday reported that when it knocked on a bulkhead, it heard knocking back over a two-hour period.
The last port of call for the ship was in Egypt on June 15. It is headed to Norfolk, Va.
