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
-
RTX confirms US Marine Corps and US Navy acquire Hadalus UUV
RTX told Shephard that the Hadalus UUV has been procured by the US Marine Corps and the Office of Naval Research for operational experimentation as the company prepares additional demonstrations with the US Navy, NATO and AUKUS partners.
-
The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement
The UK will spend an estimated US$3.89 billion over the next decade in joint naval programmes, a lot of which will be in cooperation with Norway.
-
Rheinmetall’s GMF 140: Ambitious frigate or market misfit?
Rheinmetall has unveiled its first next-generation frigate design, showing ambitions to compete as a surface combatant prime contractor. While the company is targeting North America, analysts believe the concept may be better positioned for future European programmes.
-
US Navy $76.6bn award provides stability for submarine production
The US Department of War’s US$76.6 billion Columbia-and Virginia-class submarine contract gives industry demand certainty as Washington seeks to rebuild its shipbuilding base.