Damen Expands Long-Term Collaboration with Naval Forces in the Netherlands and Sweden

The Damen Shipyards Group has completed a contract with the Dutch and Swedish Ministries of Defence for a seven-year maintenance agreement covering a total of five vessels. All of these vessels are tugs sourced from Damen.

This agreement encompasses extensive maintenance work, both scheduled and unscheduled, excluding regular operational activities conducted by the crew. Planned maintenance will occur according to a predetermined timeline, mutually established by all stakeholders. Both ministries will also have round-the-clock access to a service desk for any additional requirements that may arise.

The crews may receive training from Damen concerning their basic maintenance responsibilities, alongside guidance in vessel operation and navigation at the simulator training facility managed by 360-Control in IJmuiden.

The contract with the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) pertains to three Damen ASD 2810 Hybrid tugs. Two of these, the Noordzee and Waddenzee, were delivered in February and April, respectively. The third tug, named Zuiderzee, is expected to be delivered in June. Their maintenance will be managed by the nearby Damen Shipyards Den Helder.

For the Swedish Royal Navy, Damen Shiprepair Oskarshamnsvarvet, situated on Sweden’s Baltic coast, will handle maintenance for their two Damen ASD 3010 tugs (ICE class), known as HMS Hector and HMS Hercules.

MX-suite software will be employed for the remote oversight of the operations of all five tugs, providing real-time information on engine hours to ensure servicing occurs precisely when needed.

The acquisition of the tugs signifies a cooperative effort between the Defence Material Organisation of the Netherlands and the Swedish Forsvarets Materielverk (FMV). The maintenance agreement was signed by Anders P. Nilsson, Head of Surface Warfare at the Swedish Ministry of Defence, and Captain RNLN J. F. Kwak, Head of Project Procurement, representing the Dutch Materiel Organisation, accompanied by Jelle Loosman, MD of Damen Shipyards Den Helder, and René Berkvens, CEO of the Damen Shipyards Group.

Peter van den Berg, Deputy Director of Damen Shipyards Den Helder, stated: “The maintenance management solutions provided by us and Damen Shiprepair Oskarshamnsvarvet will alleviate the workload for the navies, ensuring these vessels remain fully operational at all times. The Den Helder facility is ideally located in proximity to where the Dutch tugs are stationed, enabling us to effectively manage spare parts storage. In Den Helder, we have formed a specialized training team to assist organizations and companies in adapting to the evolving technology associated with hybrid vessels. The Oskarhamn facility is strategically placed between the operational areas of the Swedish tugs, fostering a bi-directional flow of information that allows our vessels to continually evolve to meet our customers’ needs effectively.”