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.