On Saturday, March 8th, Dutch Defence Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert ceremonially named the Karel Doorman, the new Joint Support Ship for the Royal Netherlands Navy. The ceremony took place in Vlissingen at the shipyard operated by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. With a length of 204.7 metres, the Karel Doorman is the biggest ship in the Dutch navy.
The new logistical support vessel can be deployed to supply units at sea, for strategic sea transport, and for logistical support from the sea (“seabasing”), with the ship acting as a seaborne base for implementing and supporting land operations. It must be possible to perform these duties worldwide, and anywhere within the spectrum of force. In addition to a below-deck transport deck, medical facilities, and its own loading and unloading facilities, the new vessel also has a helicopter deck with two landing pads for different types of helicopters.
The Karel Doorman replaces two supply ships, the HNLMS Zuiderkruis (decommissioned in 2012) and the HNLMS Amsterdam (to be decommissioned this year). The new vessel was largely built at Damen’s shipyard in Romania, but has been fitted out in Vlissingen. It will commence trials in May.
In her memorandum “In the Interests of the Netherlands” [In het belang van Nederland], the Minister announced last September that, once it had been outfitted, the new Joint Support Ship would be sold. This cost-cutting measure was cancelled a month later, meaning that the ship will in fact join the Dutch navy. Ms Hennis-Plasschaert is currently investigating whether there is international interest in shared use of the vessel, for example within NATO or within the EU.
More (and updated) news, speeches, photos and a video can be found (in Dutch) at the website of the Dutch Ministry of Defence: www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2014/03/08/hennis-doopt-karel-doorman-voor-behouden-vaart
Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group operates 40 ship- and repair yards, employing 8.000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 5.000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers approx. 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.
Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale value and reliable performance. Furthermore, Damen vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.
Damen offers a wide range of products, including: tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and super yachts.
For nearly all vessel types Damen offers a broad range of Services, such as maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. To complete, Damen offers a variety of marine components, especially nozzles, (flap-type) rudders, steering gear, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
Damen Shiprepair & Conversion
In addition to ship design and shipbuilding, Damen Shiprepair & Conversion offers a network of 16 repair & conversion yards worldwide, with dry docks ranging up to 420×80 metres. Conversion projects range from adapting vessels to today’s requirements and regulations to the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DS&C handles 1, 500 repair and maintenance jobs annually.
