Report Infodefesa: The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard commemorated its 25th anniversary.
The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied celebrated on February 1st, the 25th anniversary of its creation. Although its origin dates back to 1993, the formal date of its establishment is February 1, 1996. The Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied is the result of an agreement between the Netherlands, the autonomous governments of Aruba, Curaçao and Saint Marteen, and the rest the islands that make up the Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius). Its command center is established in the Naval Parera of the Koninklijke Marine Marina, located in Curaçao, and has support centers in Aruba and Sint Maarten, as well as stations on other islands. While the components repair has a station in the Hato area of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht Royal Air Force also located in Curaçao. It also has a coastal surveillance radar system and a Rescue and Coordination Center The director of the Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied is the commander of the Command of the Netherlands Naval Force in the Caribbean Commandant der Zeemacht in het Caribisch Gebied) and Task Force 4.4, which is currently Marine Brigadier General Frank Boots. The staff is made up of about 200 troops, mostly natives of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, and about 20 from the Royal Dutch Navy Naval and air resources The fleet is made up, mainly, by three Damen Stan Patrol 4100 Jaguar (P 810), Panther (P 811) and Puma (P 812); as well as twelve Metal Shark 38 Defiant fast patrol boats. The three Stan Patrol 4100s, displace 206 tons, measure 41 meters in length, are armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun and are manned by eleven personnel. For its part, the 38 Defiant, built in aluminum, measure 11.6 meters in length and 3.5 in beam, and are powered by two diesel engines. The fleet is mainly made up of three Damen Stan Patrol 4100 Jaguar (P 810), Panther (P 811) and Puma (P 812) patrol vessels; as well as twelve Metal Shark 38 Defiant fast patrol boats. The three Stan Patrol 4100s, displace 206 tons, measure 41 meters in length, are armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun and are manned by eleven troops. For its part, the 38 Defiant, built in aluminum, measure 11.6 meters in length and 3.5 in beam, and are powered by two diesel engines. In addition, other small boats are added, such as Boston Whaler Justice 20 speedboats of 6.25 meters in length and powered by a 150 horsepower outboard motor, in addition to RHIB Sea 700 type boats. As far as aircraft are concerned, there are two De Havilland Canada Dash 8 maritime patrol planes and two Leonardo helicopters. It should be said that the Caribbean Coast Guard operations are supported by units of the Dutch Navy stationed in the Caribbean in rotating periods, such as frigates and OPVs that have helicopters on board, but only, such as the logistics support ship HNLMS Pelikaan (A 804), which returned to its base in Curaçao, in October 2020, after undergoing a half-life update process by Damen, as reported by In terms of aircraft, there are two De Havilland Canada Dash maritime patrol planes and two Leonardo helicopters.In his speech at the anniversary ceremony, General Boots announced that the Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied is waiting for an important and intensive period, the organization will grow from the Netherlands countries in the next Antildeans thanks to the financial support of the Netherlands