West Indies Guard Ship (Netherlands)

The West Indies Guard Ship (Dutch: West Indisch Bewakingsvaartuig or WIS-vaartuig) refers to a unit of the Royal Netherlands Navy responsible for maintaining a continuous naval presence in the Caribbean Sea, particularly around the islands that constitute the Dutch Caribbean: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.

The primary roles of the West Indies Guard Ship are to provide maritime security, enforce Dutch law, and offer humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the region. Specific duties often include:

• Counter-Narcotics Operations: Intercepting illegal drug trafficking.
• Search and Rescue: Responding to maritime distress calls and coordinating search and rescue efforts.
• Fisheries Protection: Monitoring and enforcing fishing regulations in Dutch territorial waters.
• Border Control: Assisting with preventing illegal immigration.
• Disaster Relief: Providing aid and support following hurricanes, earthquakes, or other natural disasters.
• Maintaining Sovereignty: Projecting Dutch naval power and asserting sovereignty over the Dutch Caribbean territories.

The West Indies Guard Ship is typically a frigate-class vessel, although patrol vessels and support ships may also be deployed. The ship operates under the command of the Commander Naval Forces Caribbean, who is stationed at Naval Base Parera in Curaçao. The role is rotated periodically, usually every few months, by different ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy. This rotation ensures a consistent presence and allows for the vessels to undergo maintenance and crew changes. The presence of the West Indies Guard Ship is considered crucial for maintaining stability and security in the Dutch Caribbean.