Multipurpose frigate HNLMS Van Speijk left the port of Den Helder for Somalia.
The ship will be taking part in the Ocean Shield counterpiracy mission.The Van Speijk has 168 military personnel on board, including a heavily armed specialist team of marines. These marines have been trained for boarding suspect ships.
HNLMS Van Speijk is the first modified multipurpose frigate (M frigate) to be deployed on operations. The modifications include an entirely new command centre and a new mast with modern electro-optical sensors, enabling the ship to operate better in littoral waters. The other Dutch M frigate, HNLMS Van Amstel, will receive similar modifications, as will the two M frigates in service with the Belgian navy.
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Press Release, May 17, 2013