WILLEMSTAD – Personnel shortages and aging vessels caused operational challenges for the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard during 2025, according to its annual report.
The Coast Guard reported fewer patrol days with its cutters than originally planned due to staffing shortages, maintenance problems and difficulty obtaining replacement parts for older vessels.
According to the report, recruiting and retaining specialized crew members for the cutters remains difficult because of tight labor market conditions. Operational capacity was also reduced by illness, staff absences and the lack of qualified reserve personnel.
The organization acknowledged that some of its cutters and smaller patrol boats are aging rapidly and increasingly require additional maintenance.
Despite the challenges, the Coast Guard continued working on major modernization projects, including replacing its cutter fleet and strengthening radar detection systems on the Windward Islands.
The report states that two new cutters are currently planned for delivery around mid-2028, while a third vessel has now officially been approved as an additional option.
Meanwhile, a project to replace the aging Justice-20 patrol boats has been delayed by at least one year after the procurement process failed to attract enough competing bids.
The Coast Guard also confirmed that office facilities at Hato have remained condemned since 2022, with temporary emergency office accommodations still in use.