THE HAGUE - A group of Members of the Dutch Parliament, representing the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), has broadened its inquiry into the controversial OIL tanker Regina, which offloaded Venezuelan crude in Curaçao under circumstances that raise questions about flag authenticity, sanctions compliance and coordination between authorities.
In a detailed set of 12 formal questions submitted on February 10, the MPs asked the Netherlands government — including Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot (Van Weel) and State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Maarten van Marum — to clarify not only how the vessel was permitted to berth and discharge its cargo, but also what risks this incident poses from legal, diplomatic and humanitarian standpoints.
The questions highlight broader concerns after investigative reporting suggested that:
- The Regina used a fraudulent flag of East Timor, disabled its Automatic Identification System (AIS) for long periods, and carried a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number that did not match the ship, even though it was said to be on a U.S. sanctions list.
- Questions remain about what Dutch authorities and Curaçao’s Maritime Authority knew and when, especially regarding alerts reportedly sent to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
In one of the inquiries, the MPs ask whether the government is aware of two NRC articles from January and February reporting that the Netherlands allowed an illegal tanker carrying Venezuelan oil into Curaçao despite clear red flags, and they want to know how this could happen.
A key topic raised is the treatment of the Philippines crew on the Regina, who were reportedly left stranded after the vessel was detained. The parliamentarians want clarification on who — the Netherlands or Curaçao — is responsible for their legal, personal and safety needs.
CDA lawmakers also probed whether other tankers on international sanctions lists, such as the Volans and possibly the Albedo, had been heading toward Curaçao and what protective measures are in place to prevent similar incidents.
The parliamentarians questioned whether the U.S. government had contacted the Netherlands or Curaçao following the detention of the ship, indicating that the situation may have broader international implications.
Another significant focus is on oil trader Trafigura. MPs asked if it is true that Trafigura was hired by the U.S. government to commercialise the Venezuelan crude under a licence from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and whether the Netherlands was informed about this structure beforehand — including any legal or political risks.
Finally, the questions directly ask how the government assesses the risk that Curaçao and the Netherlands could be implicated in sanctions evasion or the possible violation of international law due to how these transport and storage operations have unfolded — a subject that could have implications for foreign relations within the Kingdom.
The CDA MPs additionally asked whether this issue has been discussed at the Kingdom Council of Ministers, where the Netherlands holds significant influence on foreign affairs, and if not, whether it should be placed on the agenda to ensure joint Kingdom action.