ORANJESTAD, ST. EUSTATIUS — Eight volunteers are a step closer to serving on Statia’s search and rescue boat after completing six days of training with the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM).
The training, which was organised by the Saba Statia SAR Foundation, took place over two three-day sessions and was aimed at preparing the volunteers to safely operate the island’s rescue vessel and use its equipment.
The group is expected to undergo further training in January 2027, when an advanced search and rescue course is scheduled to take place.
The volunteers were selected by Andre Bennett, Crisis Manager for the Government of Statia, and Randy Paskel, Head of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard Support Station in Sint Maarten.
They include community members and civil servants with backgrounds in project management, technical maintenance, hospitality, science and education.
KNRM trainer Sander Boerssen said he was encouraged by the group’s response to the training.
“This group brings real energy and a strong willingness to learn,” he said. “They have made a very promising start, and I look forward to working with them again in January.”
Managing Director of the Saba Statia SAR Foundation, Hans Schreuder, said the different professional backgrounds of the volunteers would benefit the organisation.
“Because of their diverse backgrounds, these volunteers will contribute far more than operating the boat and rescuing people. Their skills will help us build a strong and sustainable SAR organisation for Sint Eustatius,” he said.
During the week, the Foundation also presented its search and rescue truck, donated by Statia’s Crisis Management Organisation and now bearing the service’s distinctive orange colours and striping. The truck adds to the Foundation’s rescue resources, which include Nora, the vessel received in 2025. With the volunteers progressing through their training, the Foundation expects the boat to be fully operational with a trained crew during the first quarter of 2027.
