WILLEMSTAD - The navy ship Zr.Ms. Holland will arrive in Curaçao tomorrow. This is reported by the Caribbean Defense. This means that the Caribbean once again has an operational patrol ship at its disposal.
With a salute from Fort Krommelijn, the ship is ceremonially brought in by the Commander of the Navy in the Caribbean. HNLMS Holland will stay in the Caribbean for at least six months.
The ship will be patrolling the Caribbean Sea intensively in the coming months. "The ship is used for anti-drug operations, enforcement in arms smuggling and human trafficking, but also for any hurricane emergency relief within or outside the Kingdom," said Defense Caribbean.
The ship will also sail for the Coast Guard, and will also be involved in enforcing environmental regulations, for example when it comes to (illegal) fishing.
The new station ship is an Oceangoing Patrol Vessel of the Holland class. HNLMS Holland was last active as a station ship in the Caribbean in the spring of 2018. The ship also has an NH90 maritime combat helicopter on board, which, if necessary, can carry out search and rescue operations together with the station ship.
Defense Caribbean: "With the presence of the station ship, the armed forces are fulfilling their constitutional tasks, such as maintaining the international legal order." The previous station ship, Zr.Ms. Groningen managed to book a record of five drug seizures in one month.