The Dutch Navy and Dutch shipyard Damen have carried out sea trials for the future Den Helder (A834), a Combat Support Shipyard built for the Dutch Navy. Den Helder is scheduled to be commissioned in the spring of 2025.
The shipyard told Zona Militar that CSS Den Helder is a one-off support vessel, meaning Damen is not building another one. At least not yet. “The Netherlands Ministry of Defence ordered one vessel.
Should they require additional vessels in the future, we can, of course, accommodate,” Damen told ZM.
The shipyard declined to discuss the weapons systems installed aboard the CSS Den Helder, explaining that the Ministry of Defence (specifically the Materiel and IT Command: COMMIT) is “responsible for choosing and installing” the defense systems. The well-known defense news agency Janes has noted that the CSS has two Leonardo Lionfish Top 12.7 mm remote weapon stations.
One primary interest of global navies nowadays is launching uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) from a ship’s deck for a variety of operations. In response to a question by ZM about drone testing aboard Den Helder, Damen explained, “the sea trials of the Den Helder did not include the launch of drones.”
In its 13 December press release, Damen explained that CSS Den Helder’s “has about as much cargo capacity as big half-sister HNLMS Karel Doorman.”
ZM asked the shipyard about the differences between the two ships. Karel Doorman is a Joint Logistic Support Ship (JSS) and can perform a wide range of tasks, including replenishment at sea. “We designed, engineered, and built the JSS, so, on an engineering level, the ships share many similarities,” Damen said. Specifically, the two ships’ capabilities, engineering, and systems aboard the JSS and CSS are similar, so they can be considered half-sisters. However, “the Den Helder is the first and only one of her kind, and her primary task is replenishment at sea of fuel, water, goods, ammunition, and spare parts,” Damen explained to ZM.
The brand-new ship arrived in Vlissingen, The Netherlands, on 13 December, after departing from Damen’s shipyard in Galati, Romania, on 16 November, for her Sea Acceptance Tests (SATs). Testing included delivering supplies at sea to the Holland-class offshore patrol vessel HNLMS Friesland (P842). The Dutch Navy explained that in Spring 2025, the ship will officially visit its home port of Den Helder for the first time.
CSS Den Helder can transport up to 7,600 m3 of diesel (F76), including self-use, 1,000 m3 of helicopter fuel (F44), including self-use, 226 m3 of drinking water, 434 tonnes of other goods, including ammunition and 24 containers. The ship comes equipped with two cranes capable of lifting up to 40 tonnes, as well as a helicopter deck and hangar for one medium-sized NHIndustries NH90 helicopter. Damen told ZM that the ship can support a task force of six ships, and the ship can also be utilized for medical support missions.
Den Helder has a length of 179 meters, a service speed of over 18 knots, a crew of 75, and can transport an additional 75.
CSS Den Helder will replace the supply ship HNLMS Amsterdam (A836) decommissioned in 2014. The vessel was sold to Peru and currently operates in the Peruvian Navy as BAP Tacna (ARL158).
