How to buy a ‘mega-dinghy’: the perilous new model of Channel crossing

Boats carrying hundreds of people are a clear and alarming trend. But where do such large vessels come from? Providing a large dinghy for use in the choppy seas of western Europe was not a problem, as long as the order was for more than 20 vessels, they said. The sales manager at the Chinese company even had an online brochure for an undercover Guardian reporter, posing as a prospective client, to peruse. They had a production capacity of 500 boats a month and, yes, it was possible to get eve...

By Daniel Boffey Chief reporter