When a report comes in, it is received by a coordinator and shared with volunteers through a WhatsApp group. The first available responders mobilize immediately. A crew heads out, while others remain at the boathouse to coordinate communication between the Coast Guard and the vessel. “Actions have become bigger than before,” Gareth explains. “Rescues used to be closer to shore, with smaller boats. Now missions can take up to eight hours.”

 

CITRO currently has around 40–45 volunteers, with about 25 actively participating in rescue actions at sea. Others support in different roles, from medical teams and technical work to administration and communications. Beyond that, their strength lies in its structure. There are medical teams onshore and onboard, operational crews for rescues and a shore team supporting logistics such as refueling, maintenance and preparation. A support team handles administration, fundraising and outreach.

The organization runs entirely on volunteers and donations, supported by local companies, members of CMAR among them, across the maritime sector. Through its Botenfonds, CITRO builds reserves for larger investments and unexpected costs. This collective support ensures that equipment remains in top condition and that volunteers can operate safely and effectively. Volunteers must meet annual training requirements. At the same time, the organization continues to look for additional support, both in funding and in people.

 

When asked about their most memorable rescue, the answer is unanimous:

 

“All missions are special.”

 

But some leave a deeper mark. “The missions I dislike the most are when we have to bring in a corpse,” Beppie says. The others nod.

“Those are heavy missions,” Gareth adds. “Especially when it’s a child.” To manage that weight, CITRO is deliberate in how crews are formed, often combining experienced volunteers with newer ones. After difficult missions, they debrief extensively. Support also comes from within the organization itself. “We’ve learned from the past,” Gareth explains. “We lost volunteers because of the emotional toll. Now we make sure there’s space to process what we’ve seen.”

 

Johnny still remembers one mission that changed him. “We lost a fellow volunteer, Robert Willems,” he says. “We’re trained for rough seas, but we lost him during a land rescue with flooding. I had nightmares after that. I just couldn’t believe it.”

 

Not every story is heavy. Gareth recalls a rescue where a woman had lost part of her finger at sea. “We brought her in with her daughter,” he says. “After we had transferred them to the ambulance crew, the husband called. He had found the missing piece. We went back out, retrieved it, and got it to the hospital just in time.”

Years later, a teenage girl ran up to him and hugged him tightly. “I didn’t recognize her at first. Then her mother showed me her finger and I remembered everything.”

 

Looking Ahead

 

For the future, the vision is clear.

 

More awareness. Regular donations. Stronger collaboration.

 

“With more boats and more people on the water, the number of rescues is increasing,” Gareth says. Johnny adds, “we hope people become more aware of safety.”

 

There are also discussions about expanding medical support, including a potential first aid post on Klein Curaçao.

 

All volunteers agree:

“We hope to grow our volunteer base.”

And not only for operations. “People often think you need to be on a boat or in the medical field,” Gareth says. “But we need all kinds of support, administrative, technical and communications. A lot can be done in your own time.”

 

CITRO began with a simple act: a citizen taking their own boat out to rescue people in need. From that moment, a small group formed at Marine Base Suffisant, eventually growing into the organization it is today. Over the years, CITRO has developed into a structured, multi-disciplinary volunteer network, supported by the community and maritime partners.

 

In May, CITRO marks its 50th anniversary, with increased visibility, storytelling and events to highlight its work and history. What began 50 years ago with a citizen who chose to act has grown into an organization of trained volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to assist others at sea. During the interview, one phrase returned several times: “vrijwillig, maar niet vrijblijvend.” Voluntary, but never without commitment.

 

It reflects how CITRO operates, not driven by obligation, but by a shared responsibility to be ready when it matters.

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CITRO is an honorary member of CMAR.

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