Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Delivers OPV Zeeland to Royal Netherlands Navy

On Thursday 20 October, the second of four Holland Class Oceangoing Patrol Vessels, “Zeeland” built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding for the Royal Netherlands Navy, was transferred to the Defence Materiel Organization of the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands.

Immediately after delivery, the “Zeeland” departed  the Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding facilities to arrive in Den Helder 21 October. In the near future the ship is scheduled to conduct a work-up period from Den Helder. On completion of the second Integrated Mast Module by Thales NL the ship will return to Vlissingen for installation of the Thales Integrated Mast Module (IMM)

Ocean Going Patrol Vessel

The four vessels of the Holland Class OPV’s measure 108 metres in length and 18 metres in width with a displacement of approximately 3750 tons.

They offer hangar space and landing facilities for one NH-90 helicopter or equivalent types. Their armament consists of one 76 mm Oto-Melara gun, one rapid-fire 30 mm gun and two 12.7 mm Hitrole machine guns. The weapons all have full remote control. Thanks to the state-of-the-art sensor and communication technology in the Integrated Mast Module (IMM), detection and tracking of high- and low-altitude air targets, fast boats, periscopes, mines and even swimmers will be possible.

The first two patrol vessels, “Holland” and “‘Zeeland” are built at the shipyard of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in Vlissingen, with a number of sections being supplied by the Damen shipyard in Galati. The “Holland” was handed over to the Royal Netherlands Navy earlier this year in May.

The third and fourth vessels, “Friesland” and “Groningen” are built at the Damen shipyard in Galati under the supervision of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. Partial SAT for the “Friesland” have been successfully completed last September. Presently she will sail to the Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding yard for final outfitting of certain systems and components.

DAMEN SCHELDE NAVAL SHIPBUILDING:

The Damen Shipyards Group offers a complete range of naval and patrol vessels ranging from 7 to over 200 meters.

Parts of this portfolio are the Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) naval combatants and auxiliaries, embodied by the SIGMA and ENFORCER series.

At present DSNS also has under construction for the Royal Netherlands Navy: a Joint Logistic Support Ship (JSS), the largest military vessel built by DSNS so far. For the Royal Moroccan Navy, DSNS has a series of three SIGMA frigates under construction, the first SIGMA frigate, Tarik ben Zayid was transferred to the Royal Moroccan Navy last month.

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Source: damen, October 24, 2011