On 23 February 2025, near buoy Maas 5 at the Maasmond (Rotterdam), a collision occurred between a Dutch-flagged harbor tug and a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker in dense fog. The tug…
The new Dutch Electronic Bill of Lading Act
What does this new Act mean for vessels trading to and from the Netherlands? Effective 1 July 2026, electronic bills of lading will be treated as equivalent to traditional paper…
NNPC Correspondents and Iberum P&I Correspondents
Through our newsletter, website (www.nnpc-correspondents.nl), and LinkedIn page, NNPC Correspondents has become a well-known service provider in the industry. As P&I correspondents, we provide our services in all Dutch ports…
Amsterdam protects seafarers’ right to shore leave
The Port of Amsterdam has introduced new guidelines aimed at making shore leave more accessible for seafarers calling at Amsterdam. The initiative is intended to give practical effect to an…
Dutch customs enforces sanctions rules
Dutch customs recently conducted a major operation in the port of Rotterdam, intercepting multiple shipments of sanctioned goods bound for Russia. The captain of a container ship operating a regular…
Prevention of maritime accidents
Key lessons from the Dutch Safety Board report (July–December 2025) The Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid (Dutch Safety Board) report on maritime accidents (July–December 2025) identifies systemic prevention lessons from incidents involving…
Tank washing at sea
In Dutch, the term ‘zeezwaaien’ refers to the process whereby a tanker leaves a Dutch port to head out to sea for the purpose of washing its tanks, and then…
Impact of excise duties and VAT on bunker costs in Dutch ports
In response to questions about the impact of Dutch taxes on marine bunker prices in regard to rising fuel prices world-wide we have summarized the position in the Netherlands in…
New Dutch fuel transition rules for marine fuels
The Netherlands is preparing to introduce a new fuel transition obligation for shipping from 2026, as part of its implementation of European Renewable Energy Directive (RED3). The measure will apply…
Update to the Dutch Shipping Act
The Dutch government is modernizing the Shipping Act (“Schepenwet”) of 1909, a key piece of legislation that has long governed maritime safety for vessels flying the Dutch flag or those…
5 years of NNPC Correspondents: 2021-2026
NNPC Marine insurance launched NNPC Correspondents BV on 20 February 2021 as a subsidiary of NNPC based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to provide services in the Netherlands and throughout European…
Rotterdam port vision 2050*What does it mean for visiting ships?
The Port Vision 2050 was recently presented in Rotterdam. The Port Vision 2050 outlines Rotterdam’s ambition to become the most competitive, sustainable, and resilient port in Europe by 2050. The…
Scrubber wastewater and Dutch ports
The Dutch government is preparing a national ban on the discharge of scrubber wastewater into Dutch ports and inland waters. The measure aims to protect local water quality and aligns…
Delays due to snow in the port of Rotterdam
Over the last couple of days, The Netherlands has experienced significant winter weather, with snow and icy conditions spreading across much of the country. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI)…
Looking ahead to 2026
Several important developments are expected in the Netherlands and Europe in 2026 in the field of shipping, in terms of commercial developments, sustainability, innovation and infrastructure. We mention few of…