Construction second Patrol Vessel begins

In Vlissingen a start was made with the construction of a second Patrol Ship for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Naval Forces Commander, Marine Lieutenant-General Rob Zuiderwijk laid down the keel for the future Hr. Ms. Zeeland. Late 2008, State Secretary for the Department of Defense Jack de Vries had done the same for the first patrol ship, for Hr. Ms. Holland.

Before representatives of the Defense Department and the master builder, Lieutenant-General Zuiderwijk lowered the keel section down onto its place. Then he welded an eighteenth century historical coin to the keel. This age-old ritual is said to bring luck to the ship and its crew.
 

Marine study

The purchase of these patrol ships stems from a Marine study that was held in 2005. As a result of this document and due to changing global security, the emphasis for naval operations has shifted to coastal waters. Consequently, the Ministry of Defense decided to purchase four new patrol ships for tasks to be performed on a lower violence spectrum. Ocean Patrol Vessels (OPV) are small, 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.

Vlissingen 21-09-2009

Publication date: 21-9-2009

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