Transforming into a 24-hour organization means that the Coast Guard is also continuously deployable outside of emergencies and urgent cases. This development requires an investment in personnel and equipment. The goal is to work through what is known as Intelligence-Guided Policing (IGP). This is based on timely information gathering, processing, enrichment, and analysis, within legal frameworks.
As the manager and budget holder, Defence is responsible for the Coast Guard. In addition, Defence typically has a station ship in the Caribbean. The Coast Guard also has operational days on this ship. However, in the first part of last year, there was no station ship present. This was due to the navy being deployed in the Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea for several missions.
Furthermore, the Coast Guard faced problems regarding the cutters. Due to personnel shortages and technical issues, there were fewer operational days available. This was particularly true for the Panter (Aruba). The start of the replacement process for the cutters was considered one of the most important equipment projects for 2024. Last year, the project for shore radar capacity in the Windward Islands also commenced.
Various Tasks
The Coast Guard Caribbean is the maritime link in the law enforcement chain of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Tasks are carried out for Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the public entities of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. The Coast Guard provides services such as search and rescue. However, investigative and supervisory tasks and combating human trafficking, drug and human smuggling, and irregular immigration are also part of the work.