Regional liaisons joining hands with Coast Guard

For the first time liaisons from St. Kitts and Anguilla joined the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard during patrols in regional waters. The liaisons joined the Coast Guard boarding team and members of the St Maarten Customs Department. This form of international cooperation facilitates a more efficient approach towards international shipping in the territorial waters of the Windward Islands, the Coast Guard stated in a press release on Friday.

The inspections were carried out by Dutch Navy vessel HMS Amsterdam in the waters surrounding St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, Saba, Anguilla and St. Kitts.

Especially shipping to St. Maarten was inspected by go-fasts and the Lynx helicopter on board of the Amsterdam. In total, 39 vessels were checked, ranging from yachts and fishing boats to a 100,000-ton tanker. Various ships received warnings

because of shortcomings in the area of safety. One ship violated fishing legislation near Anguilla and was handed over to the authorities in Anguilla.

The Amsterdam currently is docked in St. Maarten and will continue her patrols on behalf of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard.

Source: “The Daily Herald ” 2012-03-24