The U.S Coast Guard offered a three-day port security workshop and emergency management table-top exercise from February 27 to March 1 in Mahuma. The 23 workshop participants included representatives from the Curacao Maritime Authority, Curacao Ports Authority, Refineria Isla, the Fire Department, the Curacao Drydock Company, the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, Curacao Port Services, the Curacao Police Department, and Customs.
The workshop covered International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code objectives, Coast Guard responsibilities, security threats assessment, and other port security matters, including industrial ports and cruise ship security.
Curacao’s Maritime Authority Director, Jan Sierhuis, and U.S. Consul General Valerie Belon handed out graduation certificates at the closing ceremony on Thursday, March 1. During the ceremony, U.S. Consul General Belon stressed the strong ties between Curacao’s maritime industries and the United States. "It is in our common interests to minimize and mitigate risks to shipping. With so many cruise ships coming from the United States, refinery fuel shipments going to the United States, container ships going to and from the United States, improving security in Curacao’s ports increases security at our ports as well. The Caribbean is in our backyard and so we are working with all partners in the region to reduce risks and improve security." The training was very well-received and an excellent opportunity to further strengthen ties between the U.S. Coast Guard and maritime stakeholders on Curacao.