In the Netherlands, the brand new supply ship “Den Helder” arrived in its home port of the same name on March 24. There, the Damen Naval shipyard handed over the ship to the Dutch Ministry of Defense. However, the so-called Combat Support Ship (CSS) is not immediately operational.
This is because the “Den Helder” is not yet equipped with military equipment. This task is being taken on by the Ministry of Defense. This mainly involves sensors as well as weapons and communication systems.
The Dutch navy will be launching the “Den Helder”, which was christened by Princess Amalia at the end of Februaryinto service on October 1. She will then also be given the name “His Majesty”. The commissioning will be followed by an intensive training program. The supply ship should then be ready for global deployment by mid-2026.
Floating hospital
The new CSS is an important addition to the fleet. It supplies other naval vessels with fuel, ammunition and spare parts, among other things. The platform also serves as a floating hospital. This makes the “Den Helder” indispensable for the long-term deployment of naval vessels. There is therefore a great demand for this type of supply ship within NATO.
