Welcome to the Directorate of Shipping and Maritime Affairs; the highest governmental and supervisory organ for maritime affairs, located on the island of Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles.

The Netherlands Antilles consists of two Leeward Islands, Curaçao and Bonaire, and the three Windward Islands Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba. These islands enjoy self-determination on all internal matters and defers to the Netherlands in matters of defense, foreign policy, and some judicial functions.

The Government of the Antilles has successfully established a major base for the registration of foreign ships. Under the Shipping Act and the Shipping Decree, which is a matter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, ships can be registered under the above mentioned flag.

The main island of the Netherlands Antilles is Curaçao, where Willemstad, it’s capital is located. This island enjoys very good connections with the outside world by telephone, telefax and internet. The international airport on the island provides for daily flights to Europe, the United States and South America. The economy is dependent on tourism, the refining and transhipment of Venezuelan petroleum, and offshore finance. Consequently the Antilles has a more developed infrastructure than other nearby countries. Another major industry is ship repairing. Curaçao's ship-repair dry dock is one of the largest of the Western Hemisphere.

If you are looking for accountability, safety and effectiveness, the Directorate of Shipping and Maritime Affairs is eager to provide you such qualities.

 
 
 
 
 
 
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