ORANJESTAD (AAN): Aruba’s Minister of Tourism, Transportation, and Labor, Wendrick Cicilia, attended a Kingdom-level maritime conference in Sint Maarten that concluded on Friday, April 17, where two important maritime protocols were signed.
The conference brought together maritime officials from across the Dutch Kingdom, including Minister Grisha Heyliger of Sint Maarten, representatives of Ministers Charles Cooper and Roderick Middelhof, and executives from various Dutch departments. The agreements signed during the conference are seen as significant steps toward strengthening maritime cooperation within the Kingdom.
The first protocol is a continuation of the Koninklijke Maritieme Organisatie (Royal Maritime Organization), a platform where all maritime affairs departments exchange information, expertise, and mutual support on maritime matters. For Aruba, this agreement carries particular weight given the island’s economic dependence on maritime connections, including cruise tourism and imports. Compliance with regulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and preparation for the IMSAS Audit make expert knowledge exchange essential.
The second protocol is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between countries within the Dutch Kingdom and the Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid (Dutch Safety Board). This agreement addresses maritime accidents that may occur in territorial waters and provides the opportunity to request the Dutch Safety Board to conduct joint investigations alongside local experts.
The conference also addressed several other key topics, including Aruba’s ongoing preparation for the IMSAS Audit, international treaties awaiting ratification, and the need for local legislation on maritime safety. The Ministry of Transportation has committed to ensuring that necessary legislation reaches the Parliament of Aruba to comply with international regulations and guarantee safety in the island’s territorial waters.
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