Netherlands targets Russian ships illegally using Aruba's flag

THE HAGUE — The Dutch government is preparing tougher legislation targeting Russia's so-called shadow fleet, including vessels illegally using the flags of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten to evade international sanctions. This according to Curacao Chronicle. 

The proposal would give authorities greater powers to intercept and detain vessels carrying fraudulent registration documents. The maximum prison sentence for illegally flying a Kingdom flag would increase to four years.

These vessels, primarily oil tankers, also pose environmental and maritime safety risks.

The Dutch Parliament is scheduled to discuss the proposal on November 4. Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten would need to adopt their own legislation, as the proposed Dutch rules would not automatically apply in their territorial waters.