Damen to design and build Dutch ESB
Damen Shipyards Den Helder (DSDH) and the Netherlands’ Defense Material Organization have signed a contract for the design, build and delivery of a prototype Expeditionary Survey Boat (ESB), Damen announced on 25 March.
The ESB will be 15.7m in length, 4.18m in height and weigh 24 tonnes. It will carry a full suite of hydrographic equipment and incorporate both hardened weapons positions and ballistic protection around the wheelhouse, engine room and gun positions.
The boat will be capable of being transported in davits on board large logistics support vessels of the Royal Dutch Navy.
Manned by four persons – two to crew the boat and two technicians to operate the hydrographic equipment - the boat will have a sea endurance of more than 60 hours at a survey speed of 5kt. It will carry out rapid environmental assessments and hydrographic surveys in harbours, river mouths, shallow waters, coastal areas and shipping channels.
The new ESB will replace smaller 10m vessels currently being used for hydrographic surveys.
More from Naval Warfare
-
South Korean navy orders four more Geomdoksuri Batch-II patrol vessels
The contract follows on from previous work by Hanjin Heavy Industries on the Republic of Korea's Navy’s (ROKN's) fleet.
-
Virginia and Columbia-class submarine programmes sign long-term parts deals
Parts from both US and Australian manufacturers will be used to build two critical submarine classes.
-
Joint Expeditionary Force launches AI protection net for undersea cables
The UK-led system assesses potential threats before they result in undersea cable damage.
-
Entire Black Sea “a contested maritime area”, says Commander of Estonian Navy
The use of uncrewed vessels and vehicles has been crucial so far, but the Commander of the Estonian Navy warns against inflating their importance.
-
Algeria signals a shift to domestic shipbuilding for Type 056 corvettes
The government recently commissioned a report on the viability of increased Algerian shipbuilding.
-
US Navy names DDG 146 Arleigh Burke destroyer after former US Senator
The latest of the Flight III Arleigh Burke vessels has been named for a former US Senator and Vietnam veteran.