Maritime Ordinance of 2007
This Maritime Ordinance imposes a reporting duty on all vessels entering or passing through the territorial waters of Curaçao.
Also a permit must be requested for any constructions of objects, scientific research, pipelines and cable laying or any other potential harmful operations in our territorial waters .
Maritime Ordinance of 2007 (landsverordening Maritiem Beheer)
This ordinance regulates maritime activities in territorial waters and aims to contribute to a sustainable use of the economic maritime resources of the island. The ordinance fully applies to the territorial sea (12 nautical miles) and the exclusive economic zone (200 nautical miles) and the part on ship-based pollution also applies to the inland harbors and waters used by sea-going vessels. The ordinance implements several international treaties and conventions, including:
- Collision regulation treaty (COLREG)
- Treaty on contingency planning for oil spills at sea (OPRC)
- Anti-dumping protocol of 1996 (Treaty of London)
- Intervention treaty to prevent maritime disasters
- Marine environment protection protocol of the regional Treaty of Cartagena
- Border treaty with the republic of Venezuela
- UN treaty on the protection of maritime cultural heritage (Paris)
The ordinance imposes a reporting duty on vessels entering the territorial waters of Curacao. Vessels planning to enter one of the ports of Curacao, need to report at Fort Nassau with the harbor authorities, and vessels on “innocent passage” need to report at the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. Vessels carrying nuclear cargo need a permit for passage through our waters.
The construction of objects, scientific research, pipe and cable laying and other potentially harmful maritime operations, including the transfer of oil products and other harmful cargoes between ships, is prohibited, unless a permit or permission is acquired to allow and regulate such activities. This permit is obtained by the Minister of Traffic, Transportation and Urban Planning, by filing a request to:
Director of the Maritime Authority of Curacao
Meteorological Building
Kay Afido z/n
Willemstad, Curacao
Permit requests are to be accompanied by a technical design or description of the construction plans or the type of maritime operations to be performed, an evaluation of the potential risks and effects of the project on the marine environment in general, and on the existing reefs and fish stock in the project area in particular, together with any measures to mitigate any negative effects. For larger projects, a full scale environmental impact study may be required, as well as a basic economic impact study of the project. Prerequisites for obtaining permits are possession of the required land titles, building permits, environmental & health permits, and a permit from the National Archeological and Anthropological Management (NAAM) regarding any known or suspected maritime cultural objects in the project site.
MAC seeks advice from the various local authorities involved, and typically advises the minister on the permit within 3-6 months after the application is accepted by its permit evaluation committee. More information on this can be obtained on this site at management@maritimecuracao.org.