Netherlands to use Colombo to fight pirates

31 January 2013 10:05 am - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Royal Netherlands Navy has decided to use Colombo as a hub to provide security to the international trade vessels against the pirates.

“In good cooperation with the Government of Sri Lanka - more specifically with the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development - arrangements have been made to use certain Sri Lankan harbours to on-, and off-load Dutch VPD teams. Strict regulations and procedures are followed to act in accordance with the Sri Lankan law in respect to weapons and ammunition,” the embassy in Colombo said.

It also said that this morning the first team of Dutch marines (Royal Netherlands Navy) departed from Bandaranaike Colombo International Airport to return to the Netherlands after disembarking from a Dutch vessel in the Colombo harbour the day before.

“These marines were part of a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) team, deployed on the vessel originating from Suez in Egypt. The Dutch VPD team offered protection on board against piracy attacks in the Indian Ocean. Most of these attacks occur in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Somalia,” it said.

It said that the protection of vessels by the Royal Netherlands Navy is costly and time consuming. Therefore, it is essential to deploy these protection teams in the most efficient way. The cooperation with the Sri Lankan authorities is of importance, since Sri Lanka is geographically positioned at the boundary of the greatest risk area to ships. The cooperation with Sri Lanka to protect one of the world’s main international trading routes over sea (approximately 300 international vessels a day), therefore is of major significance, it added.

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Comments - 13

me Friday, 01 February 2013 12:00 AM

why not use hambantota port??? oh forgot, it's unusable.. via DM Android App

Nodrog Thursday, 31 January 2013 12:43 PM

This is why everyone is so focused on SL.... because they need our ports to protect their ships.

Aceman Thursday, 31 January 2013 01:54 PM

What the Ministry of Defence should be doing is seriously looking into getting the SBS (special boat squadron) troops doing Vessel protection tasks as well.

Auto Thursday, 31 January 2013 10:18 AM

Many centuries back time Dutch too were pirates,
Invaded SL and had a good time...
welcome Back....

jilbert winestein Thursday, 31 January 2013 10:18 AM

here come the dutch by sea again..i hope portugese and british naval forces also come for a get together

Hifra Thursday, 31 January 2013 10:22 AM

we lankans will decide if you allowed to our waters or not.

WarElephant Thursday, 31 January 2013 11:17 AM

The Dutch are back, where were you guys the past 300 years

duchee Thursday, 31 January 2013 11:41 AM

History continues..

Abdul Thursday, 31 January 2013 11:57 AM

we gonna make money thanks to somalian pirates

John Friday, 01 February 2013 07:22 AM

You're an old man. Don't like to see the future. goon

MagodisThuma Thursday, 31 January 2013 12:04 PM

What about our Political Pirates !

shihan Thursday, 31 January 2013 12:09 PM

The Dutch are coming again.

sweetend Thursday, 31 January 2013 12:14 PM

Why get the Royal Netherlands Navy ? I'am sure our government forces can handle the pirates.

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Netherlands to use Colombo to fight pirates

Comments - 13

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