As of today 10/10/2010 there is a new country, new ship register and therefore new Flag State in the Caribbean. The islands of Curacao and Sint Maarten (an island shared with France) are independent countries under the above new national flag, their capital will be Willemstad, Curacao. Formerly several Dutch islands in the Caribbean where known as the Netherlands Antilles. Now Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba become part of the Netherlands directly as "municipalities".
Under the new status former Netherlands Antilles registered vessels will be transferred to the new Flag State and will fly the new ensign. All codes, treaties and governance responsibilities will be in the hands of the new country's Government. It seems likely that this could become a popular new Flag State rather like the Marshall Islands.
Good Watch.
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