Romania: Damen to Build Largest Naval Vessel for RNLN

On 7 June 2011, at the Damen yard in Galatz, the keel was laid down for the Joint Support Ship (JSS).

The ceremony was performed by Rear Admiral K. Visser of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Further construction of the vessel will largely take place at Damen Shipyard Galatz, supervised by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) whereas the final systems outfitting, commissioning and testing of the vessel and all of her systems will take place at DSNS in Vlissingen.

About the Joint Logistic Support Ship

The JSS has been designed to operate both in the lower and higher levels of the force spectrum, and measures 205 meter in length and 30 meter in breadth. Total displacement is 28.000 tonnes, speed 18 knots.

The vessel accommodates 180 crew and up to 120 non-listed persons, such as helicopter crew and medical teams. Further large areas for evacuees can be arranged.

The JSS has 2000 lane meters for transport of materiel, a helicopter deck with landing spots for operating two Chinooks simultaneously, and a hangar with a storage capacity of up to 6 helicopters. For maritime support the ship has the holding capacity of approx 8000 m3 of fuel, more than 1000 m3 of heli fuel, approx 450 m3 of potable water and approx 400 tonnes of ammunition.

The JSS has the facilities for loading and unloading operations of materiel and goods in harbors, near the shore or at open or at sea : two Replenishment-At-Sea masts, an elevator and crane for up to 40 tons, a roll on/roll off facility for vehicles, and a steel beach stern construction for accommodating cargo transfer via landing craft.

For self defence purposes the weapon suit consists of two Goalkeepers, two 30 mm automatic guns, and four automatic medium caliber gun systems.

In order to reduce the vulnerability, the vessel will be outfitted with signature reduction measures, ballistic protection, blast resistant constructions, redundant-, shock resistant-, and decentralized systems, a gas citadel and extensive fire fighting systems.

The manning requirement is low as the the vessel is designed with a layout optimized for day-to-day operations and the automation level for this vessel is high. It includes a calamity system, a warning system, an overview system and extensive subsystem automation.

Also the communication and networks are state of the art, tailored to operate in a joint network environment.

Damen

[mappress]

Source: Damen, June 9, 2011;