The Dutch contribution to emergency assistance following Hurricane Felix
HNLMS Van Nes, a Royal Netherlands Navy multipurpose frigate, was in the area acting as the Netherlands guard ship in the Caribbean. When the hurricane struck, the ship was in close proximity of Nicaraguan waters, as it was taking part in Panamax 2007, a multinational exercise.
The ship left the exercise on 4 September and steamed towards the east coast of Nicaragua, in anticipation of an emergency aid operation. The Royal Netherlands Navy’s permanent support ship in the Caribbean, HNLMS Pelikaan, was later also sent to Nicaragua from Curaçao, on 8 September 2007. It arrived at its destination on 10 September.
On 8 September, the Commander of HNLMS Van Nes contacted the Governor of Nicaragua’s Atlántico Norte province and the local military commander based in Puerto Cabezas, the provincial capital, in order to draw up a relief aid plan. In the plan, the Van Nes was tasked with delivering relief supplies directly to the affected area by, among other things, the Lynx on-board helicopter and landing craft.
The operation started on 9 September. Dutch naval personnel delivered relief goods such as shelter boxes, food and water to various destinations until 12 September. Crew members also helped to clear part of the devastated area and repair houses and wells.