Initiative to strengthen maritime control
The Dutch government has drafted a bill intended to provide the state with new tools to counter vessels using forged flags. If the document is adopted, Dutch authorities will gain the right to detain such transport within the country’s exclusive economic zone and forcibly direct them to a designated port or anchorage for inspections. In the event of violations being detected, the vessel may be seized, and its captain detained.
The submission of the relevant document to the Second Chamber of Parliament was announced on the official Dutch government portal. The bill was introduced by the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Vincent Karremans, the Minister of Defence, Yildiz Zeegers, and the Minister of Justice and Security, David van Weel.
Legislative changes and penalties
The proposed document envisages amendments to the Foreign Vessels Act. The main objective of these changes is to legalise the detention of vessels sailing under false flags and to oblige them to proceed to a place of inspection.
In addition, the government proposes to significantly strengthen liability for sailing under a forged Dutch flag. The maximum penalty for such a violation may reach four years of imprisonment.
Threats from the Russian shadow fleet
According to data from Dutch authorities, Russia actively uses a network of mostly outdated tankers to transport oil, circumventing existing international sanctions. Revenue from this activity helps finance the war against Ukraine.
Meanwhile, in the government’s view, the threat posed by such vessels is not limited to sanctions evasion. Dutch officials believe that these transport means could be used for espionage and sabotage against critical infrastructure in the North Sea. Potential targets of attacks include offshore wind farms, drilling platforms, undersea communication cables, and power transmission lines.
An additional problem is the poor technical condition of the tankers and the lack of adequate insurance. An accident involving an outdated vessel could cause large-scale marine pollution. If the vessel owner does not have insurance coverage, recovering funds to clean up the aftermath of the accident will become an extremely difficult task.
Law development process
Work on the bill was carried out on an urgent basis. In the summer, the Dutch Council of State provided an expedited advisory opinion on the document. Following this, the government further justified the compliance of the proposed measures with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Dutch parliament is now set to consider the legislative initiative.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!