Keel laying Patrol Vessel RNLN "Groningen" in Galati

On 9 April 2010 Vice-Admiral Matthieu Borsboom, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Netherlands Navy laid down the keel of the fourth Oceangoing Patrol Vessel of the "Holland-Class" the future "Groningen" at Damen Shipyards Galati.

Before representatives of the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, headed by the Director of the Defence Materiel Organisation, mr. Lex Hendrichs and the master builder, Vice-Admiral Borsboom 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.
Special guests of honour were Rear Admiral Dorin Dãnilã, Chief of of the Romanian Naval Forces Staff and Brigadier General Eng. Cãtãlin Moraru, Deputy Chief of Armaments Departments of the Romanian Ministry of Defence.

Navy study

The purchase of these OPV's stems from the Navy Study of 2005. As a result of this document and due to changing global security, the emphasis for naval operations has shifted to a-symmetric conflict. Consequently, the Ministry of Defence decided to purchase four new patrol ships for tasks to be performed on the lower side of the spectre of violence. Oceangoing Patrol Vessels are 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.

Publication date: 09-4-2010

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