Spider-infested cargo ship turned back from Guam over fears they'd overrun Pacific isle

A ship which arrived in the Pacific island of Guam was turned away after thousands of spiders poured out of its cargo.

The creepy crawlies were seen when dockers began offloading insulation and beams for housing units from the vessel which had travelled from South Korea.

The cargo was returned to the MV Altavia and the ship was ordered to sail away over fears the spiders could overrun the U.S. territory.

Invasion: One of the spiders found on a crate aboard the cargo ship MV Altavia

‘When you get this many from this many various sizes, it's definitely an infestation,’ said Department of Agriculture director Joseph Torres.

Agriculture officials said they did not know what species of spider was on the ship.

But they said it was a type that was not normally found on Guam and there was concern that it could damage the island's environment.

‘It's not on Guam,’ Mr Torres added. ‘We don't want it here.’

The ship was carrying housing units and accessories which were to be used at a village expected to house up to 18,000 temporary workers.

Tests: Spiders in sample tubes are being examined to determine their species

Before the ship initially docked, officers with the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency boarded the ship and gave clearance for cargo to be unlocked for offloading, said Bernadette Meno, an administrator for the Port Authority of Guam.

But when port workers saw the spiders, the containers were ordered back on the ship and it was anchored in the harbour.

The decision was later made not to let the ship return.

Location: South Korea, where the ship sailed from, and Guam, where it arrived

Marianas Steamship Agencies arranged for the ship's arrival and departure.

Its vice president, Richard P Sablan, said he would follow the orders of customs, agriculture and U.S. Coast Guard officials.