Damen Shipyards Galati Marks Milestone with Combat Support Vessel Keel Laying
On the 2nd of June, Damen Shipyards Galati executed the keel-laying ceremony for the Combat Support Ship (CSS) Den Helder. This event signifies a significant achievement in the fabrication of this new supply vessel for the Royal Netherlands Navy. The keel-laying ceremony was officiated by the Director of Defence Material Organisation (DMO), Vice Admiral Arie Jan de Waard, alongside Vice Admiral Rob Kramer, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN).
The shipyard commenced the steel cutting for this new craft in December of the prior year. Following the keel-laying, all the essential components for the actual shipbuilding process in Romania are now prepared. The design work for the CSS has predominantly taken place in the Netherlands. Damen Naval division leader Hein van Ameijden highlights that it is largely the collaboration with firms from the established naval construction network that enables the groundbreaking production of Dutch naval vessels: “More than a year after signing the contract for this vessel, Damen Naval has finalized 116 procurement agreements, of which 82 are with Dutch suppliers. These entities mostly hail from the Rijnmond and Zeeland regions. It is this extensive network of companies that plays a role in the assembly of this new ship for the RNLN.”
In addition to underlining the strong collaboration among all stakeholders involved, the keel laying also carries traditional significance. Historically, a coin was placed beneath the wooden mast to symbolize prosperity. In contemporary shipbuilding, where vessels are constructed from steel, the coin is set beneath the keel block. Both admirals partook in this tradition for the CSS, placing a coin from 1822 as a commemorative gesture. This was a pivotal year for the RNLN, marking the transition of the marine establishment with drydock in Den Helder into their ownership, following various plans and initiatives for fortification during the Napoleonic era.
The subsequent major ceremonial milestone is the vessel’s naming; however, this will occur only after the ship’s construction is finalized in 2023. Following commissioning, testing, and shipyard trials, the vessel will navigate to Den Helder, where the accessories and combat management system will be integrated prior to its handover to the navy in 2025.
The vessel was crafted in close partnership with the DMO and RNLN. It is structured based on the Joint Support Ship HNLMS Karel Doorman, which was previously constructed by Damen. This nearly 180-meter-long ship will accommodate a standard crew of 75 personnel and can facilitate an extra 85 individuals onboard. In addition to the capacity for fuel and munitions to support other vessels, there is ample space for several helicopters and twenty containers.
