WILLEMSTAD - The intensification of the Coast Guard patrols in cooperation with Defense has been taking place with desired effects. In recent weeks, the Coast Guard has not observed any illegal boats reaching the shores and therefore, the Coast Guard will continue to patrol and deploy all its units to protect the borders of Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire. For intensifying patrols, the Caribbean Coast Guard receives Defense assistance in the form of the Zeeland Station ship, anaconda patrols, Caribbean militiamen, soldiers on land and at sea. The surveillance of the combined units is carried out both visibly and invisible. In Aruba, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which is a flight unit, also monitors borders. The UAV is also part of the Defense assistance in the Caribbean to the Coast Guard for border surveillance.

The objective of the islands' surveillance is to intercept possible illegal landings with boats, with possible contamination on board before they reach the islands. In South America there is currently an outbreak of COVID-19. Many civilians died from the virus and many inhabitants are infected with the virus. The governments of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire want to keep the current situation now that they have COVID-19 under control. This is important to revitalize the islands economy and create stability for the residents.

The Coast Guard requests the residents of the islands to report suspicious or dangerous practices at sea through the telephone number 913. You can contact the Coast Guard day and night at number 913. Ships at sea can also contact the Coast Guard Rescue and Coordination Center 24 hours a day through VHF channel 16 when they observe suspicious or dangerous situations at sea. With your cooperation we keep the sea and the coasts of the islands safe during the crown crisis.