Curaçao Seaman Book

About Curaçao Seaman Book

 

The Maritime Authority of Curaçao (MAC) is accountable for the supervision of the implementation of the maritime regulations. Prevention of maritime pollution and maritime incidents is the goal of MAC and the contribution to the community.

 

As the highest maritime authority of Curaçao, MAC oversees the Curaçao ship register’s compliance with international and national regulations and implement regulations and instructions to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

 

MAC oversees maritime activities in the territorial waters of Curaçao and promotes the development of the Curaçao Ship’s Register and the maritime industry in Curaçao. MAC supports industry partners committed to the goals of maritime safety and cares for our environment.

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Curaçao has implemented the ISPS Code on its ships and in its designated ports. The Temporary Maritime Security Decision assigns ISPS authority to the Minister of Traffic, Transport, and Urban Planning, who has delegated the MAC and the Harbor Master with overseeing the implementation of the Code on its vessels and in designated ports. Shipowners based in the Kingdom can also request armed assistance from the Royal Dutch Navy for designated piracy areas and routes, provided the vessel complies with the regulations and procedures of the Kingdom. The use of onboard private armed security guards will soon be possible under certain strict conditions in designated areas, provided IMO approved international guidelines and standards are met and permits are obtained.

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IMO instruments are implemented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands as an IMO member. The Kingdom charter dictates how this is done. Based on article 3, the nationality and safety of sea-going vessels are implemented on the Kingdom level. This includes also the investigations related to safety and nationality issues. The Kingdom Shipping Act is equally applicable to all flag states of the Kingdom, including Curaçao. The implementation of shipping act instruments is done at the national level.

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Other IMO instruments, including Maritime Pollution (Marpol), manning regulations, and maritime labor issues, are regulated on the national level by Curaçao ordinances. Another difference is that Curaçao is an autonomous overseas territory and therefore not a (full) member of the EU. EU shipping directives, therefore, do not apply to the Curaçao register.

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For example:

• The Kingdom Shipping Act regulates safety issues for all SOLAS vessels:

• The Curaçao Manning Decision regulates STCW and the recognition of local and foreign crew endorsement;

• The Temporary Ship Security Decision regulates ship and port security issues;

• The new Safety Regulation for Aruban, Curaçao and St. Maarten vessels regulates the safety of smaller non-SOLAS vessels; Regeling veiligheid zeeschepen

• The Curaçao Ordinance on Prevention of Ship Pollution regulates MARPOL issues; Landsverordening voorkoming van verontreiniging door schepen

• The Curaçao Ordinance on Maritime Labor regulates MLC issues.