Princess Amalia christens Combat Support Ship Den Helder for Royal Netherlands Navy

Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange christened the Combat Support Ship (CSS) Den Helder today (22 February). This notes an unique and symbolic landmark for the brand-new replenishment ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The joyful event at the shipyard of primary specialist Damen Naval in Vlissingen was participated in by 1,100 visitors, consisting of the State Assistant for Support, Gijs Tuinman, Damen Shipyards Chief Executive Officer Arnout Damen, Replacement Leader of the Materiel and IT Command, Major General Harold Boekholt, and Leader of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Vice Admiral René Tas.

Damen news release

Throughout her very first solo functioning check out, Princess Amalia talked the standard words, “I call you Den Helder and desire you and your team secure journeys,” prior to wrecking a container of sparkling wine versus the hull of the CSS. As the ship’s christener, the Crown Princess will certainly have an unique link with the vessel throughout of its life span. After ceremonially reducing the last mooring line with a little ritualistic axe, the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy played the Wilhelmus, the Dutch nationwide anthem.

” This is a wedding for Damen Naval. It is an excellent honour to invite the Princess of Orange to our shipyard. In doing so, she proceeds a long-lasting custom of the Royal Household’s link to ships for the Royal Netherlands Navy, made and developed by De Schelde, currently Damen Naval,” claimed Damen Naval Handling Supervisor Roland Briene.

He additionally highlighted the effective partnership in between the Netherlands Ministry of Support and the Dutch marine shipbuilding market, with Damen Naval as the primary specialist and nationwide Initial Devices Maker (OEM). “The baptism of the CSS notes the start of a massive fleet substitute and support program for our Royal Netherlands Navy. It highlights our historical and tactical collaboration with the Ministry of Support, which is currently concentrated on revival and velocity. Right here in Vlissingen, the heart of Dutch marine shipbuilding, we are devoting sources and capability to this immediate fleet modernisation. To attain this, we function very closely with a vast array of Dutch firms, study institutes, and, certainly, the Netherlands Ministry of Support. We have actually been doing this for 150 years– and we will certainly remain to do so.”

Specifically 48 months after the very first steel was reduced, the ship effectively finished its first sea tests in December 2024. Complying with the baptism, Damen Naval will certainly accomplish the last job prior to handing the vessel over to the Materiel & IT Command (COMMIT) of the Netherlands Ministry of Support.

” Throughout the very first sea tests, the ship has actually confirmed to be an important enhancement to the Netherlands marine fleet,” claimed Damen Naval Job Supervisor Arjan Risseeuw. “Because the agreement was checked in 2020– and also prior to that– all celebrations have actually dealt with this ship with enthusiasm and commitment. That makes it a lot more unique to see many of our job companions below for the baptism. It’s terrific to see ones ‘child’ in the limelight similar to this.”

Replacement Leader of COMMIT, Major General Harold Boekholt, included: “For everybody that has actually dealt with the CSS over the previous couple of years, it’s amazing to see the ship being christened below today. There is a penalty and durable vessel in the harbour of which we can all be honored. In support of COMMIT, I would love to say thanks to everybody that added to this accomplishment.”

He proceeded: “Complying with the baptism, the ship will certainly undertake additional sea tests, and the last systems will certainly be mounted by the Royal Netherlands Navy in Den Helder. As soon as every little thing fulfills our assumptions, COMMIT will certainly supply a functional, cutting-edge, and future-proof CSS to our Royal Netherlands Navy.”

Leader of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Vice Admiral René Tas: “The baptism of the Fight Assistance Ship is an unique minute– an essential action adhering to the effective conclusion of its sea tests. This vessel will certainly not just give a critical capacity within the Netherlands marine fleet yet additionally within NATO procedures. Replenishment ships are vital for maritime procedures, allowing various other vessels to stay mixed-up for extensive durations. The Royal Netherlands Navy expects inviting the ship to its home port of Den Helder for the very first time. Seeing this brand-new marine vessel below today loads me with satisfaction.”

The last time a brand-new Netherlands marine ship was christened remained in 2014, when Priest of Support Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert called the Joint logistic Support Ship (JSS) HNLMS Karel Doorman The replenishment ship Den Helder is the 2nd marine vessel, along with HNLMS Karel Concierge, to have a vital logistical feature.

The CSS is made for worldwide release and can additionally be made use of for altruistic help and the transportation of items. The vessel will certainly be furnished with a Duty 2 clinical center. The almost 180-metre-long ship will certainly suit a core team of 76, with area for an added 80 workers. The brand-new ship is made to maintain a job pressure of 6 vessels mixed-up, also in unfavorable climate condition, by providing gas, food, water, ammo, and various other crucial items. To sustain this function, the CSS can lug greater than 8 million litres of gas.

This ship is the outcome of close participation in between Damen Naval, the Ministry of Support, and the whole network of nationwide providers. With its conclusion, they are taking the very first step in the wider modernisation of the Netherlands marine fleet. Furthermore, this job sustains the Maritime Production Market Industry Schedule, enhancing Vlissingen and Zeeland as vital centers for marine shipbuilding.

As the CSS job enters its last stage, Damen Naval and the Ministry of Support can currently concentrate on a variety of programs established via a calculated collaboration. These campaigns line up with the 2024 Support White Paper (Solid. Smart. With each other.), which intends to quickly recover the militaries to complete functional toughness and foster lasting partnership with tactical markets. Damen Naval is the Netherlands’ nationwide companion for the navy in this initiative.

Trick programs consist of the advancement of brand-new Anti-Submarine War (ASW) frigates for both the Netherlands and Belgium. On top of that, strategies are underway to change the Air Support and Command Frigates of the De Zeven Provinciën course, present brand-new Amphibious Transportation Ships, and establish smaller sized complementary vessels such as the Multirole Assistance Ship (MSS).

This strategy accomplishes 2 vital objectives: preserving a solid, future-proof nationwide marine shipbuilding market while additionally making sure that the Netherlands plays a purposeful function in the expanding need for European support market participation.

– End-

Check out Naval News’ interview on CSS Den Helder during NIDV NEDS 2024:

The message Princess Amalia christens Combat Support Ship Den Helder for Royal Netherlands Navy showed up initially on Naval News.