The Netherlands Coastguard has received the patrol vessel Enforcer to support surveillance, enforcement and safety operations in the North Sea.
Multraship handed over the vessel to Rijkswaterstaat and the Netherlands Coastguard on September 16. The vessel will provide additional capacity until a new generation of coastguard vessels enters service.
Enforcer was built by Damen Shipyards in Gorinchem and is owned by Multraship, which is responsible for its crew and maintenance. The Netherlands Coastguard will have operational command of the vessel.
The vessel will support coastguard activities including surveillance and maritime safety operations. Boarding officers from agencies including the Dutch police, customs and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee will use the vessel to conduct inspections and enforcement activities at sea.
The patrol ship is equipped with two rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), a crane, a towing system, a FiFi 1 firefighting system and salvage pumps.
According to Multraship, the vessel meets Tier 3 emissions standards and operates on HVO100 fuel.
The company is already supplying the Rijksrederij with three emergency response and towing vessels (ERTVs). Those vessels are used for emergency towage operations and general Coastguard duties. The addition of Enforcer builds on this successful alliance between government and maritime partners.