Damen and Fugro to power up Dutch Navy with new surveillance vessel

Dutch heavyweights Damen and Fugro have joined forces to provide the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) with a surveillance vessel and operating crew. 

As informed, the companies established a joint venture to deliver the vessel and crew for a two-year charter, with an option to extend twice for another year (four years total). 

The Dutch Ministry of Defence has contracted this new partnership to enhance its marine security and surveillance capabilities. The RNLN will deploy the surveillance vessel to conduct security operations within the Netherlands’ North Sea exclusive economic zone (EEZ), both above and below the water.

Advanced technology like uncrewed vehicles will enable the ship to monitor vessel activities in the North Sea and survey critical underwater infrastructure, such as cables and pipelines, Damen noted.

The charter agreement was awarded through a public tender and is set to begin in the first half of 2025. The vessel that will perform the charter is a Damen FCS 5009, which offers seakeeping abilities through its sea axe bow design, which was developed together with the Delft University of Technology.

The Damen FCS 5009 vessel has a length of 53.2 meters and a deck area of 240 square meters, providing considerable space for crew and cargo transport. It can achieve a maximum speed of 24 knots, allowing for swift transit.

Constructed with a steel hull, the vessel offers a durable and safe platform for operations. In addition to its transport capabilities, the FCS 5009 features emergency towage and crane handling functionality. Its Sea Axe bow design is noted for its seakeeping characteristics, and the slender hull shape contributes to efficient fuel consumption, according to Damen.

This project has been funded by the North Sea Infrastructure Protection Program (PBNI) coordinated by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

“We are very proud of this alliance with Fugro and the confidence the Ministry of Defence has placed in us for executing this important contract,” said Arnout Damen, CEO of the Damen Shipyards Group.

“The Damen way of working means we can deliver a vessel quickly and, with Fugro, we can start work at short notice to monitor and protect the strategic interests of the Netherlands in the North Sea.”

“At Fugro, our mission is to create a safe and liveable world. Keeping our underwater infrastructure in the North Sea safe is integral to this, and by working together with Damen and the RNLN, we can contribute to national security and surveillance efforts. We have previously showcased our experience in monitoring critical underwater infrastructure to the Dutch Ministry of Defence and look forward to continuing to work with them,” said Mark Heine, CEO of Fugro.

To remind, Damen recently handed over the Dutch Navy’s new combat support ship (CSS) Den Helder. CSS Den Helder was built at the Damen Naval yard in Galați, Romania, and departed from there in November 2024 for its first sea trial and the voyage to the Netherlands. The unit was christened by Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange in February this year.