The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Thursday one was clutching a bottle with about 300ml of water left in it, which had to be prised from his hand.

"He was hanging on to it for dear life," said NSRI operations coordinator Gavin Riddle.

"It's absolutely amazing that they survived."

An NSRI team took the two survivors off the ship in Port Elizabeth harbour on Wednesday evening.

Christiaan Baradise (22) and Isaac Cyrin (28) were taken off the Washington Highway along with the body of a third stowaway, known only as Emmanuel.

The stowaways were clinging to the side of the ship, in a tiny wet compartment meant for the rudder shaft, said Riddle.

They were spotted by the tug crew while the car carrier was docking at about 5pm on Wednesday.

"It's a very dangerous place to be at any time, especially when berthing," said Riddle. "They were both very dehydrated, hypothermic, very shocked, very confused and dazed."

The compartment was about 1m to 1,5m above the water level.

"Every time they went through a big swell they would have been soaked."

They told their rescuers they climbed aboard when the ship docked in Côte d'Ivoire and lost their food after about four days at sea.

The ship's agent, Pranesh Oodhrajh, said the ship docked in Abidjan on October 17, so the stowaways spent eight days at sea.

Baradise and Cyrin are recovering in the St George's hospital in Port Elizabeth.

"Both men are conscious and in a stable condition," said hospital spokesperson Marietjie Shelley. She would not comment further.

The two Nigerians asked Minister of Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula for political asylum when she visited them in hospital on Thursday.

"They have indicated they want to apply for political asylum. We are going to facilitate that process for them," said the minister's spokesperson, Cleo Mosana, from Port Elizabeth.

"We will ensure that the correct process will be followed."

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The three Nigerians had travelled from West Africa in a tiny wet compartment in the shaft above the ship's rudder.

Mosana said the survivors' condition was stable and they remained under guard in the St George's hospital because of the way they arrived in the country.

She called their survival a "miracle" and said the UN High Commission for Refugees and non-governmental organisations would be asked to help the pair find accommodation while their application was being processed.

"Even if they are stowaways they are human beings."

Mosana said there had been about 10 stowaways in South African ports this year.

Photo Above: South Africa National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 12