THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch government is updating its nearly 115-year-old Schepenwet (Shipping Act), a long-standing maritime law dating back to 1909, with changes that will also apply to vessels from the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom — including Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten. The revision was approved by the Dutch Senate earlier this month as part of a broader effort to bring maritime regulations in line with modern practice and international standards.
What the Modernization Aims to Achieve
The Schepenwet historically established rules for vessel safety, inspections, reporting obligations and accident investigations. The legislation, which has been updated piecemeal over the past century, no longer fully reflects contemporary maritime operations, technological advancements or international requirements, according to preparatory government documents.
Revisions focus on:
• Expanding the law’s scope so that it uniformly applies to all ships entitled to fly the flag of the Kingdom, regardless of the part of the Kingdom where they are registered. This includes vessels registered in Curaçao, increasing legal clarity and harmonizing oversight across European and Caribbean territories.
• New safety and compliance requirements that align with international conventions such as the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) treaty and regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). These updates aim to strengthen enforcement, reporting obligations and accountability in cases of accidents or safety lapses.
• Revised terminology and structure to reflect modern shipping practices, digital communications and updated maritime roles such as “officer” and “shipper,” making the law easier to interpret and enforce.
• Updating penalty categories so that fines and enforcement tools can be adjusted without requiring future legislative change, making enforcement more agile and responsive.
Why It Matters for Curaçao
Although the Schepenwet originated in the European Netherlands, the revisions explicitly extend its reach to include ships flying the flag of the Kingdom — meaning those registered under Curaçao’s maritime authority. For Curaçao’s maritime sector, this means tighter alignment with Netherlands-wide safety and inspection standards.
Curaçao’s reputation as a regional maritime hub — evidenced by nearly 3,000 vessels calling at the island’s port in 2025 — makes regulatory clarity especially crucial. Updated requirements are expected to promote safer operations, increased compliance with international conventions and improved oversight for vessels operating in both Caribbean and international waters.
Safety and Enforcement Enhancements
A key aspect of the update is stronger enforcement authority for maritime inspectors, including clearer procedures for inspection, certification and follow-up in the event of safety violations. The reforms also include provisions for an ongevallenonderzoek — a formal accident investigation mechanism that did not previously exist in the same structured form.
Maritime experts note that these changes come at a time when global shipping safety is under increased scrutiny and when harmonization with international standards is vital for trade, insurance and environmental protection.
Economic and Operational Impact
For shipowners and operators in Curaçao, the modernization could mean adjustments in certification, reporting and inspection compliance. In the past, similar proposals to the Schepenwet have also included substantial increases in fines for violations under the updated regime, a change that would affect vessel operators in Curaçao as well.
Improved legal clarity and stronger enforcement could also bolster confidence among international trading partners and support Curaçao’s ambition to strengthen its role as a maritime hub for the Caribbean region.
Broader Context
The update of the Schepenwet intersects with other governance reforms affecting the Kingdom’s maritime and transport policy. For example, recent changes to the Dutch Rijkswet Nationaliteit Zeeschepen have revised how ships obtain nationality and flag status — a change that broadens flexibility for owners while maintaining safety and registration standards.
As the modernized law is implemented in the coming months, maritime operators, port authorities and regulatory bodies in Curaçao will be closely following further guidance from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Maritime Authority Curaçao on how the revisions will be applied in practice.