HNLMS Pelikaan Returns to Curaçao Finer Than Ever After Transformation
As of October 1, HNLMS Pelikaan has returned to the familiar waters of the Caribbean. On September 17, Damen Shipyards Den Helder handed over the HNLMS Pelikaan to the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) following an extensive mid-life enhancement lasting eight months. After these upgrades, the vessel, originally delivered to the RNLN by Damen in 2006, is poised for an additional 15 years of operational service.
Towards the end of November 2019, the Caribbean support vessel made its way back to the Dutch shore for the first time since its commissioning in 2006. After serving thirteen years in the Caribbean Sea in support of naval operations and humanitarian missions, it was due for significant maintenance. This took place at Damen’s facilities in Den Helder and Harlingen.
The enhancements included the installation of advanced nautical, communication, and automation systems, upgrading the galley, and routine maintenance on the two primary engines. The most significant improvement was the fitting of a substantially heavier crane, which serves as the primary weapon system of HNLMS Pelikaan. This crane is vital for independently conducting emergency relief missions in the Caribbean. Not only is the crane significantly heavier, more contemporary, and user-friendly than its predecessor, but it also supports the operational capabilities of a new fast raiding interceptor and special forces craft (FRISC). This swift and agile vessel enhances HNLMS Pelikaan‘s effectiveness in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking. Moreover, the overhaul included upgrading all onboard accommodations, making the vessel more suitable for female personnel.
Project leader Jan-Dirk Boomsma remarked, “The project encountered its share of difficulties – including, of course, the emergence of the coronavirus. Nevertheless, with stringent safety protocols in place, we managed to progress with the upgrades. Thanks to the outstanding collaboration with the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), the Naval Maintenance and Sustainment Agency (DMI), and the crew, we successfully completed the project to everyone’s satisfaction within a relatively brief timeframe.
The mid-life enhancement was accomplished successfully, partly through close cooperation with the Dutch naval shipbuilding industry. Alewijnse, Heinen & Hopman, Alfa Laval, Hatenboer Water, and Rohde & Schwarz are just a few of the Dutch subcontractors involved in this initiative.
