On Wednesday 31 August, the second of four Holland Class Oceangoing Patrol Vessels, “Zeeland” built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding for the Royal Netherlands Navy, left Vlissingen, The Netherlands, for her sea acceptance trials (SAT). During the SAT, primarily the platform as well as parts of the sensor weapons and communications suite will be extensively tested. The tests will be performed by representatives of the yard in close cooperation with representatives of the Royal Netherlands Navy and the main subcontractors.
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 will consist of one 76 mm Oto-Melara gun, one rapid-fire 30 mm gun and two 12.7 mm Hitrole machine guns. The weapons will 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, “Hr.Ms. 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. Hr.Ms. Holland was handed over to the Royal Netherlands Navy earlier this year in May.The third and fourth vessels, “Groningen” en “Friesland” are built at the Damen shipyard in Galati under the supervision of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. Partial SAT for the Groningen are scheduled for the end of September. Hereafter 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. Part 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 three SIGMA Class frigates under construction.
[mappress] Source: damennaval, September 2, 2011;