Feature 1 | Logistics vesseLs
Netherlands to receive new Joint
Logistics Support Ship
Towards the end of 2009, Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) was
awarded a contract by the Netherlands’ Defence Materiel Organisation
(DMO) to build a new Joint Logistic Support Ship (JSS, joint logistiek
ondersteuningsschip) for the Royal Netherlands Navy.
S
cheduled for delivery in July 2014,
the 28,000-ton displacement vessel –
to be named HrMs Karel Doorman
– will be the largest ship ever to serve with
the Royal Netherlands Navy, comfortably
exceeding the ex-Royal Navy Colossus class
aircraft carrier of the same name which
served between 1948 and 1968.
Parliamentary approval for the JSS
programme to proceed was confirmed
on 8 December 2009. The total cost of
the project is put at €363.5 million
(US$512.1 million).
DSNS received its design and
construction contract from the DMO on 18
December 2009. Construction of the vessel
itself will be centered on Damen Shipyards
Galati in Romania under the supervision
of DSNS. Design, materiel procurement, the Jss will displace 28,000tons, have an overall length of 204.7m, and will be built under
final outfitting, commissioning and testing gL naval class rules.
of the vessel will be undertaken by DSNS
in Vlissingen.
The project to procure the JSS was and equipment) and sea-basing (acting as Imtech, Thales Nederland, TNO Defence
established in 2005 following the an afloat base near to shore). & Security and MARIN. Specific studies
publication of a white paper that set out Taken together, these diverse have examined propulsion, ammunition
a new course for the Royal Netherlands requirements required a functional design storage, management and operational
Navy. In particular, it sought to rebalance capable of replenishment at sea, aviation spaces, safety cases, ramp systems,
the maritime force structure by investing support, the accommodation of transient integrated topside design, propeller
in joint expeditionary afloat support, personnel, the storage and management of design, ship hydrodynamic performance,
transportation and maritime security supplies, independent loading/offloading shock and vulnerability, offload at sea,
capabilities at the expense of high-intensity (in port and at sea), ship-to-shore signatures and helicopter operations.
warfighting capability, reflecting changed transport, and medical and technical The ship design has evolved through
thinking and new priorities in the Royal support. The JSS will incorporate a Role a series of iterations to accommodate
Netherlands Navy and The Netherlands’ 3 medical facility with a capacity of 30 growth in requirements and, where
armed forces as a whole. patients per day. necessary, trade cost and capability.
It was against this backdrop that the JSS In addition to these three primary Options to construct the vessel in The
concept was born. Although nominally missions, the operational requirement Netherlands were examined. In the final
a replacement for the 34-year old also specified a capability to support analysis, the significantly lower labour
auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel HrMs humanitarian assistance operations. This costs in Romania drove the decision to
Zuiderkruis in the maritime afloat support encompasses disaster relief, humanitarian centre the build programme at Damen’s
role, the staff requirement mandated that aid and non-combatant evacuations. Galati yard.
the JSS should offer significant additional Under the guidance of DMO, the The final design, displacing 28,000tons
capability in terms of both strategic sealift concept definition of JSS has been with an overall length of 204.7m, will be
(the transportation of military vehicles undertaken by DSNS, with the support of built under GL naval class rules to the
14 Warship Technology March 2010
WT_Mar-2010_p14-16.indd 14 23/02/2010 15:52:09
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