Surveillance vessel ordered for Dutch Navy

Both surface and subsea surveillance will be carried out, with uncrewed vehicles also used to monitor vessel activities in the North Sea, specifically for the Dutch exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Critical underwater infrastructure, such as cables and pipelines, will be monitored and crew will also be provided.

The vessel, a Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 5009, is 53.9m long by 9.8m, with four main Caterpillar/MTU engines that give it a speed of up to 27 knots. It has a Sea Axe bow design, which Damen says was put together with the Delft University of Technology and give it ‘unparalleled sea-keeping abilities’.

“We are very proud of 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 we can start work at short notice to monitor and protect the strategic interests of the Netherlands in the North Sea.”

Subsea monitoring equipment will be provided by Fugro.

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