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Holland Class Patrol Vessel [OPV] - Program

On 20 December 2007, the Netherlands' Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and Schelde Naval Shipbuilding signed a contract for the supply of four Patrol Vessels. The contract has a value of 240 million euros. The four Patrol Vessels will be built for the Royal Netherlands Navy, and are to be delivered in a time-frame between November 2010 and November 2012.

As of 2001 it appeared that the RNlN would begin planning around 2009 for the replacement of the two Jacob Vans Heemskerck and the first four units of the Karel Doorman class frigates. In guideline with the Defense White Paper 2000 objectives, fourteen major surface combatants will be retained. More than likely, a corvette sized vessel would replace the two classes of frigates.

The purchase of these OPV's stems from the Navy Study of 2005. As a result of this document and due to changing global security, the emphasis for naval operations has shifted to a-symmetric conflict. Consequently, the Ministry of Defence decided to purchase four new patrol ships for tasks to be performed on the lower side of the spectre of violence. Oceangoing Patrol Vessels are flexible patrol ships equipped specifically for the surveillance of coastal waters. Apart from recent threats posed by terrorists and pirates, they will be deployed for ship inspections and anti-drug operations.

The first two vessels will be built at Schelde's premises in Vlissingen, whereas the construction of the third and fourth vessel will largely take place at Damen Shipyard Galatz under supervision of Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. The contract marks the ongoing, intensive relation between the Royal Netherlands Navy and Schelde Naval Shipbuilding over many decades. It also highlights the outstanding reputation of Schelde Naval Shipbuilding as a major naval shipbuilder of patrol vessels, fast-attack craft and corvettes.

The first two patrol vessels, "Holland" and "'Zeeland" are built at the shipyard of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in Vlissingen, with a number of sections being supplied by the Damen shipyard in Galati. The "Holland" was handed over to the Royal Netherlands Navy in May 2011. On 20 October 2011, the second of four Holland Class Oceangoing Patrol Vessels, "Zeeland" built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding for the Royal Netherlands Navy, was transferred to the Defence Materiel Organization of the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands. Immediately after delivery, the "Zeeland" departed the Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding facilities to arrive in Den Helder 21 October. In the near future the ship is scheduled to conduct a work-up period from Den Helder. On completion of the second Integrated Mast Module by Thales NL the ship will return to Vlissingen for installation of the Thales Integrated Mast Module (IMM).

The third and fourth vessels, "Friesland" and "Groningen" are built at the Damen shipyard in Galati under the supervision of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. Partial SAT for the "Friesland" have been successfully completed last September. Presently she will sail to the Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding yard for final outfitting of certain systems and components. On 9 April 2010 Vice-Admiral Matthieu Borsboom, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Netherlands Navy laid down the keel of the fourth Oceangoing Patrol Vessel of the "Holland-Class" the future "Groningen" at Damen Shipyards Galati.

On Tuesday, September 27th, 2011, the third Oceangoing Patrol Vessel (OPV), FRIESLAND, left the Damen Shipyard from Galati, Romania for her Sea Acceptance Trials. After a journey of 150 kilometers along the Danube, the ship arrived at the Black Sea where it will be conducting tests for the next 10 days. During this so-called platform trial run, the entire ship will be subjected to extensive testing. The tests will be conducted by staff of Damen Shipyards Galati and Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Vlissingen. The Defence Material Organisation and the Navy Command will be acting as a critical customer and the shipyard needs to demonstrate that all systems meet the requirements.