Dutch ship owner Vroon has brought two formerly Dutch flagged product and chemical tankers under the flag of Gibraltar, because this flag allows for private security on board.
The Iver Exact and Iver Exemple now pass piracy infested waters with armed security. Vroon felt it could not wait for the Dutch cabinet to change its regulation that will allow private security on board the Dutch fleet, the Royal Dutch Shipowners Association (KVNR) states on its website. The KVNR now appeals to the Dutch government to make haste with their new regulation before other ship owners follow Vroon's example.
On 26 April the Dutch government decided it will allow private security on board specific catergories of merchant ships and under strict terms and conditions. This decision that will create a level playing field as other nations, such as the UK and Belgium, already allow private security. These terms and conditions, however, are yet to be decided upon.
Picture: The Vroon ship Iver Exact (picture from vroon.nl)
