According to Superyacht News www.synfo.com the Netherland Antilles has made changes immigration legislation that will affect yachting crews and industry professionals visiting the Caribbean nation. Currently the St Maarten Marine Trades Association is attempting to have the government postpone the legislation until after the MYBA Charter Show (3rd to 7th December). Meetings are due between the Association, the Island Government and the Netherlands Antilles Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The outcome on an amendment is hopeful.

Some crew members previously able to use the Seaman’s Book are now required to get a visa. Visas are available from most of Dutch Consulates around the world.

A full list of Dutch Embassies appears at Open Directory.

The original story appears on Superyacht Times. A list of nationals required to get visas for Netherlands Antilles appears at London Embassy for Kingdom of Netherlands.

Maybe the Netherlands Antilles government will wake up to the trouble they are forcing on their thriving yachting industry. Recently their chief rival in the Caribbean Broker Boatshow War, Antigua and Barbuda, dropped a hugely unpopular Advanced Passenger Information System in an attempt to avoid rocking the boat (pun).