HOORN, The Netherlands- On Friday, June 13th, the official handover of the new Search and Rescue (SAR) vessel for St. Eustatius took place at Habbeke Shipyard in Hoorn, the Netherlands.
The vessel was handed over to Island Governor Alida Francis by the Director General of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Also present at the ceremony were Crisis Manager André Bennett (Statia), Head of Public Order and Safety Walle Bos (Saba), Manager of Aviation and Regional Airports Marjan van Giezen, Strategic Aviation Security Adviser Marius Sliedrecht, and SAR Project Leader Hans Schreuder.
The SAR vessel strengthens F.D. Roosevelt Airport’s ability to meet international civil aviation requirements, particularly regarding emergency response and maritime safety.
The vessel is named in honor of Leonora Sneek-Gibbs, who passed away in May 2022. Sneek-Gibbs was elected to the Island Council in 1991 and served as Commissioner and later as State Secretary for Constitutional Affairs in 1994. She was widely recognized for her work in areas such as governance, education, culture, youth engagement, and social development.
Funding
The project has been funded by the Ministry of Security and Justice and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
