PHILIPSBURG:— The station ship HNLMS Groningen has resumed operations in the Caribbean. As a precaution, the ship had her crew in isolation for some time following COVID-19 contamination. The GGD Curaçao has tested the entire crew of the ship for COVID-19 and found no new positive cases.
The station ship is conducting patrols in the Caribbean. She also sails patrols for the Coast Guard in the Caribbean and the ship can be deployed in (hurricane) emergency relief. HNLMS Groningen also has an NH-90 helicopter on board for her broad range of duties. This means that patrols can be carried out not only from the sea but also from the air, in order to prevent illegal (drug) transports or to identify possible landings of undocumented migrants in a timely manner. The crew member who was diagnosed with COVID-19 some time ago and who prompted Defense to isolate the crew as a precaution is doing well.
