the meaning of "stowaway" and "kind of capacity"

[kjc0123]

What is the meaning of "stowaway" and "kind of capacity" in the following sentences?

"A terrorist could infiltrate a member of the crew. A terrorist could come on board a vessel in a stowaway kind of capacity, in a container for example. A terrorist could come on board through a passenger network. A terrorist could come alongside and board  the vessel while it's underway."

[kevh_uk]

Capacity means volume...a canned drink has a capacity of 330ml, a suitcase has a capacity of about 50 litres. I think in this context capacity simply means a container of some sort.....and we know that a stowaway is sombody who hides on a ship in the luggage hold when they are packing it up, to get a free ride.

[andy hughes]

Again, if I may elaborate - a "stowaway" is someone who comes on board a ship illegally, and usually hides out fo sight - 'stowed away' is the nautical term for all equipment that is packed away until needed. In this instance 'kind of capacity' means that a terrorist could come on board pretending to be a 'normal' stowaway - someone who just wants a free ride, but in this case, the terrorist is pretending to be a stowaway as a disguise.

[Peter Pedant]

Hi kay-jay. I agree with Allen.

Stowaways conceal themselves. So they cant exactly come on board and say, hello I am your friendly stowaway for this flight....In fact stowaway comes from the words that they stow themselves away.

The English is poor, and I agree that in stead of 'in a stowaway kind of capacity' he could have written better and more clearly, 'as a stowaway'. This is shorter, clearer and uses less ink.