The first two contracts for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s combat support ship (CSS) project were awarded to RH Marine and Heinen & Hopman last week, shipbuilder Damen said.
As explained, the contracts were signed with a modified working method in accordance with the current guidelines of the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and Environment.
RH Marine, a system integrator and innovator of bridge systems, electrical and automation systems in the maritime industry, and Heinen & Hopman, a specialist in the field of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems (HVAC + R systems), will immediately start engineering, while the first supplies of equipment for the CSS are expected by mid-2021.
Together with Damen as the main contractor and many other subcontractors participating, a large part of the Dutch naval shipbuilding sector is cooperating on this new and much-needed ship. The total value of the project is about EUR 375 million.
The delivery of the first ship, HNLMS Den Helder, is scheduled for the second quarter of 2024.
A year later, in the second quarter of 2025, the CSS is planned to be operational.
The CSS can be used worldwide and can operate under high threat, protected by frigates. In addition, it can be used in the fight against drug trafficking, controlling refugee flows and providing emergency aid.