Denmark orders four marine environmental protection and minelaying vessels

July 3, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) has signed a contract with Orlogsskibe Danmark, a consortium comprising OSK Design, Karstensens Skibsværft, and Hvide Sande Shipyard, for the construction of four marine environmental protection and minelaying vessels.

The new vessels will provide a modern and versatile capability to strengthen Denmark’s marine environmental response. In addition to carrying out marine environmental protection missions, they will be equipped for mine-laying operations and will also be able to support tasks such as maritime surveillance and sovereignty enforcement.

As part of the consortium, OSK Design is responsible for the design. The vessels are being built in collaboration between Karstensens Shipyard and Hvide Sande Shipyard. For the first time since 2016, new vessels for the navy will be built at Danish shipyards, the companies noted.

“I am pleased that we are now moving forward with this important project. The acquisition of these new vessels will provide the Danish Navy with modern capabilities for marine environmental response. At the same time, we are ensuring that Denmark can continue to carry out marine environmental protection tasks efficiently and in accordance with the international conventions to which we are committed,” said Flotilla Admiral Claus Lundholm Andersen, head of DALO’s Naval Program.

“We are proud to be part of a project in which Danish shipyards will once again be building vessels for the Royal Danish Navy. This means even more activity at the shipyards, it means work for our specialised employees, and it means that we can help to retain and develop maritime expertise in Denmark,” Carl Erik Kristensen, CEO, Hvide Sande Shipyard, commented.

“Now the contract is in place, and that means that the work can really begin. For us, it’s not just about four vessels. It’s also about showing that Danish industry can take a bigger role when the Navy is to be strengthened in the coming years. Denmark will need shipyards, engineers, skilled workers, subcontractors and knowledge about the ships that we ourselves will need. It will also be relevant when a decision is made about the 21 upcoming naval home guard vessels. That’s the movement that this contract is starting,” stated
Jacob Høgh Thygesen, CEO, OSK Design.

Production is already underway. On June 10, 2026, the first steel was cut for the first hull at Karstensens Skibsværft’s shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland.

Once the hull is completed, it will be transported to Hvide Sande, Denmark, where the vessel will be fully outfitted. Construction of the next vessel will begin afterward.

The acquisition is part of the naval plan agreement under Denmark’s current defense strategy. The vessels are being procured by DALO, will be crewed by the Danish Navy, and will be deployed for marine environmental response missions by the Ministry of Societal Security and Emergency Management.

The vessels are expected to be delivered in 2028-2030. The value of the contract is approximately DKK 1.9 billion ($291 million).