New Combat Support Ship for the Royal Netherlands Navy arrives at Damen

Damen news release

Vlissingen, 13 December 2024– Battle Assistance Ship (CSS) Den Helder (A834) showed up in Vlissingen today after efficiently finishing her first trip and sea tests. The brand-new supply ship for the Royal Netherlands Navy left from the Damen Naval shipyard in Galați, Romania on 16 November for her Sea Approval Examinations (SATs) and is currently in Vlissingen-Oost for the last outfitting stage of the task. In the coming months, the ending up job will certainly be executed prior to the CSS is turned over to the Netherlands Ministry of Protection’s Materiel & IT Command (COMMIT) in springtime 2025.

” It is remarkable to have CSS Den Helder at the quayside in Vlissingen,” claims Damen Naval Taking care of Supervisor Roland Briene. ” Creating and afterwards collaborating with many distributors to create a huge and intricate marine ship like the CSS is a procedure of years and it is terrific to currently have the ability to appreciate the outcome of all that effort. This one-of-a-kind ship is the initial of an entire collection of vessels that we as nationwide marine shipbuilder and critical companion of the Netherlands Ministry of Protection will certainly provide to the Royal Netherlands Navy in the coming years. Interacting with our nationwide distributors, we are speeding up and heightening the coming programs for the revival of our marine fleet. In Vlissingen, we are currently turning out the Maritime Production Sector Field Program, which is obtaining expanding political assistance. We are bringing the core of marine building and construction back to Vlissingen and Zeeland, providing a significant increase to the area.”

Damen Naval CSS Task Supervisor Arjan Risseeuw got on board for the whole of the sea tests from Galați to Vlissingen. “We executed a lot of SATs in the process and substitute numerous emergency situation circumstances aboard to see exactly how the ship responds. We are extremely pleased with exactly how the sea tests went and the teamwork in between the various events aboard: our designers and commissioners, the staff and COMMIT. It is a wonderful ship that will certainly enhance the assistance and supply of our very own fleet and our NATO companions.”

COMMIT Task Supervisor CSS captain (RNLN) Joost Meesters revealed his self-confidence that the Royal Netherlands Navy will certainly get a “stunning and durable ship”. “We located no significant issues throughout the sea tests and the propulsion particularly is carrying out well,” he stated. ” CSS Den Helder is the 2nd vessel besides HNLMS Karel Concierge, and we actually require it for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s irreversible supply ability. The concept was to include a durable vessel to the fleet, and I am positive that after ending up the continuing to be jobs we will certainly have attained that objective in the near future.”

The sea tests are a vital part of a ship’s building and construction and pre-eminently implied to check the entire vessel, claims CSS leader Stefjan Veenstra. “It was vital that we left Romania with a durable ship. Taking into consideration the location where we cruised, we did not have the choice of returning in situation of issues. The ship needed to suffice to do the entire return journey and we prospered because.”

CSS Den Helder is the substitute for the supply ship HNLMS Amsterdam, which was deactivated in 2014. The advanced supply ship can offer marine vessels with gas, ammo, water, food and extra components. The CSS is deployable globally and can run under high risk, secured by frigates. It can likewise be utilized to offer emergency situation aid and transportation items. The ship will certainly quickly be outfitted with a Role-2 clinical center and can bring a helicopter. The virtually 180-metre-long ship will certainly have a 75-strong staff and can take an additional 75 individuals aboard.

Den Helder has around as much freight ability as huge half-sister HNLMS Karel Concierge Aboard, there is area for 7,600 m3 of diesel (F76) consisting of self-use, 1,000 m3 of helicopter gas (F44) consisting of self-use, 226 m3 of alcohol consumption water, 290 m3 of urea, 434 tonnes of various other items consisting of ammo and 24 containers. On top of that, the vessel has 2 40-tonne cranes. Also in poor climate, the brand-new vessel must have the ability to sustain a job pressure of 6 ships.

In December 2020, the initial steel was reduced to construct the ship in Galați, Romania, adhered to by the keel stocking June 2021. The ship was constructed in numerous components and a huge component of the hull was released on 11 April 2022. The hull was after that lugged to completely dry dock, where it was set up with the various other components. In May 2023, the ship left the dock and reached the quay in Galați for more job and appointing. Specifically 48 months after the initial steel was reduced, the ship is currently at the quay in Vlissingen for last jobs. In 2025, the ship will certainly be christened and turned over to dedicate for the installment of the battle systems. Appointing is set up for the 2nd fifty percent of 2025, after which the CSS will certainly be turned over to the Royal Netherlands Navy Command (CZSK) in 2026.

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Check out our video interview with Damen about the CSS at NIDV NEDS 2024 defense event: