Entering the Port of Willemstad.
WILLEMSTAD--Navy vessel Zr.Ms. Holland arrived in Curaçao from the Netherlands on Tuesday as station ship to the Dutch Caribbean for at least six months.
It was welcomed with the usual cannon salute from Fort Krommelijn in Willemstad and will be patrolling regional waters intensively. “The ship is used for anti-drug operations, and the fight against arms and people smuggling, but for any hurricane emergency relief within or outside the kingdom too,” said the Defence Ministry.
The military vessel is also sailing for the Coast Guard and will be involved in enforcing environmental regulations, for example, when it comes to (illegal) fishing.
Zr.Ms. Holland is an oceangoing patrol vessel of the Holland class that was last active as station ship to the Caribbean in the spring of 2018. It has an NH90 maritime combat helicopter on board, which, if necessary, can help carry out search and rescue operations.
“With the presence of the station ship, the armed forces are fulfilling their constitutional tasks, such as maintaining the international legal order,” added the statement.
The previous station ship, Zr.Ms. Groningen, managed to set a record of five drug seizures in one month.
