Pointe Blanche Naval Support Point

Pointe Blanche Naval Support Point
Marinesteunpunt Pointe Blanche
Pointe Blanche, Sint Maarten
Site information
Operator	Royal Netherlands Navy
Controlled by	Kingdom of the Netherlands
Condition	Operational
Site history
In use	2013 - present
Garrison information
Garrison	Sint Maarten Marine Detachment [1]

Pointe Blanche Naval Support Point (Dutch: Marinesteunpunt Pointe Blanche; MSTPPB) is a base of the Royal Netherlands Navy that is located on Sint Maarten. ^{[2] [3]} Since 2014 a detachment of the Netherlands Marine Corps is permanently stationed at the base. ^{[4] [5] [6]} The marines of this detachment are nicknamed Green Angels by the locals. ^[4] They provide military support to Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius. ^[7]

History

Pointe Blanche Naval Support Point was established in 2013 at Pointe Blanche, Sint Maarten. ^[8] The base was established to meet the local government's desire for a military presence on Sint Maarten. ^[8] While the base was established in 2013, the first twenty marines arrived a year later on 4 March 2014. ^[4] In total there are 29 persons stationed at the base, which includes a staff consisting of 9 persons. ^[5] Together they form the Sint Maarten Marine Detachment (Dutch: Detachment Mariniers Sint-Maarten; DETSXM). ^{[7] [9]} The Netherlands Marine Corps detachment can provide support for various matters, ranging from search and rescue operations to assisting the local police with prison searches. ^{[4] [10]} At the base the marines have access to two FRISC's and near the base there are several training facilities. ^[5] These facilities have been improved and expanded over the years. ^[8]

The marines stationed at Pointe Blanche Naval Support Point frequently take part in exercises, such as the Hurricane Relief Exercise (HUREX). ^[2] They also work together with the local police, fire department, emergency medical services and the Sint Maarten Volunteer Corps. ^[11]

Notes

Citations

1. Arno Marchand (5 June 2020). "Mariniers klaar op Sint Maarten". Defensiekrant (in Dutch). Defensie.nl.
2. "'Mooiste locatie van Defensie ter wereld'". Curacao.nu (in Dutch). 16 July 2023.
3. "Navy's highest chief visits the Caribbean". Curaçao Chronicle. 20 September 2019.
4. "Green Angels winnen terrein op Sint-Maarten" (in Dutch). Defensie.nl. 2 February 2024.
5. "Tien jaar mariniers op Bovenwindse eilanden". Defensie.nl (in Dutch). 2 February 2024.
6. Gerritsen-Schutmaat, Enklaar and Kramer (2023), pp. 225-226.
7. "Units and locations". Defensie.nl.
8. van den Bulk, Saminna (12 July 2023). "'Mooiste locatie van Defensie ter wereld'". Alle Hens (in Dutch). Koninklijke Marine.
9. Middelwijk et al. (2024), pp. 145-146.
10. Mulders, Gerritsen-Schutmaat and Kramer (2023), pp. 210-211.
11. Potters et al. (2024), p. 210.

Bibliography

• Gerritsen-Schutmaat, J.; Enklaar, M.E.A.; Kramer, W.A., eds. (15 June 2023). Jaarboek Koninklijke Marine 2014 (in Dutch). The Hague: Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie.
• Middelwijk, M.; Potters, M.C.; van der Peet, A.J.; Kramer, W.A., eds. (8 March 2024). Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Marine 2018 (in Dutch). Den Helder: Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie. ISBN   9789070677596.
• Mulders, T.; Gerritsen-Schutmaat, J.; Kramer, W.A., eds. (14 June 2023). Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Marine 2015 (in Dutch). The Hague: Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie.
• Potters, M.C.; Middelwijk, M.; van der Peet, A.J.; Kramer, W.A., eds. (8 March 2024). Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Marine 2017 (in Dutch). Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie. ISBN   9789070677572.

Further reading

• ten Hove, Jan (February 2016). "Samenwerking Korps Mariniers met lokale partners in de West" (PDF). Marineblad (in Dutch). Vol. 126, no. 1. pp. 4–7.