HNLMS Den Helder, the Royal Netherlands Navy’s latest Combat Support Ship (CSS), newly built in Romania, has begun its voyage to the Netherlands for the first time on 16 November.
She will conduct sea trials through Nato territorial waters in the Black Sea, along the Danube and in the Mediterranean.
“A concious decision” was made, the Ministry of Defence said, to build the vessel at Damen Schelde’s Galaţi facility in Eastern Romania near the Danube Delta. This is due to lower (wage) costs and the availability of qualified personnel lacking at home.
Albeit the final outfitting will take place in the town of the flagship’s namesake, Den Helder. There the vessel will be equipped with sensors and weapon systems.
In an age of heightened military demand, the Dutch government issued a Sector Agenda on its Maritime Manufacturing Industry detailing its plans and desire to revamp its indigenous maritime sector at the end of 2023.
This is especially needed since the Netherlands have embarked on an ambitious shipbuilding programme to transform its ageing fleet over the next 15 years – a goal worth several billion euros.
In June 2024, it was reported that the Royal Netherlands Navy anticipated that the CSS would be delivered in a matter of months. In 2023, Damen announced through social media that it had moved the vessel from a drydock to water for the first time after the installation of the main ship’s mast.
Delivery is on schedule for Q2 2024, with the HNLMS Den Helder expected to become operational in Q2 2025. In total, the CSS project is estimated to cost €375m ($396.5m).
Den Helder will measure approximately 180 metres long and will have a displacement of 22,400 tonnes. It will mainly supply fuel, ammunition and goods to other naval vessels at sea.
The vessel will have the capacity to accommodate a total of 150 personnel, with 75 crew members and 75 additional people onboard. It will also offer space to house two helicopters and up to 25 containers on the upper deck.
The vessel will be fitted with a Scout Mk3 surveillance radar and an identification friend or foe system.
