Damen Shipyards has held a joint steel cutting and keel laying ceremony at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania for the innovative Multi-Purpose Ship of the Portuguese Navy. The contract for the ship was signed by the two parties in November last year following a tender process.
The event was hosted by Damen CCO Jan-Wim Dekker and attended by honourable guests, the Portuguese Minister of National Defence, Nuno Melo, and the Chief of Portuguese Naval Staff, Admiral Gouveia e Melo. The chief guests carried out the steel cutting and keel laying of the vessel.
The project is funded by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) that is part of NextGenerationEU (the economic recovery package to support EU member states affected by the COVID-19 pandemic).
‘This is a ship with a revolutionary concept that was conceived by the Portuguese Navy,’ says Admiral Gouveia e Melo. ‘It is a multi-domain ship, specifically in the air, surface, and subsurface components. It can carry out numerous and varied missions, such as scientific research and experimentation related to drones and robotics, as well as support in emergency and disaster situations.’
He adds: ‘It represents a significant advantage in construction, operation, and maintenance costs, with an open modular architecture that allows for quick adaptation according to the missions and tasks assigned to it.’
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Support Ship range
The Multi-Purpose Ship forms part of Damen’s Support Ship range. The range, spanning 7000-9000 tonnes, applies proven, standard solutions where possible to ensure fast, reliable and cost-effective construction.
Considering a concept presented by the Portuguese Navy, Damen has cooperated closely with its client in the development of a vessel to meet its specific requirements. The ship, the NRP Dom João II, offers unrivalled versatility, with capabilities spanning scientific and technological research, search and rescue, emergency relief, as well as maritime safety, and environmental and meteorological monitoring.
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Drones, modular systems and labs
In acknowledgement of the growing importance of drones and autonomous technology in emergency relief and surveillance, the Multi-Purpose Ship is capable of transporting and launching unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). For the latter, this includes a 94-x-11-metre flight deck.
The 107-metre vessel features 650 m2 of deck space, suitable for the transportation of up to 12 TEUs. These can be used to house mission-specific modular systems such as hospitals, hyperbaric chambers and ROV equipment, as required.
To facilitate oceanic exploration and research, the Multi-Purpose Ship will feature both state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and accommodation for scientific personnel.
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Strengthening capabilities
Minister of Portuguese National Defence Nuno Melo: ‘The vast maritime area under Portuguese jurisdiction represents a big part of the Exclusive Economic Zones of all European Union Member States. Safeguarding this domain is essential, particularly as we face growing strategic competition in the North Atlantic. It is imperative that we strengthen our capabilities to address these threats and secure the resources of our seabed, which are of critical strategic value.’
‘The future Multifunctional Ship is a key element in responding to these challenges. By incorporating advanced technologies such as robotic aerial, surface and subsurface systems, alongside artificial intelligence, we are positioning ourselves at the forefront of maritime innovation. This ship will not only enhance the effectiveness and safety of our operations at sea, but it will also contribute across various sectors, from environmental monitoring to fisheries enforcement and scientific research,’ states Melo.
NRP Dom João II is scheduled for delivery in 2026, whereupon it will join two other Damen-built vessels, the 122-metre-long NRP Bartolomeu Dias and NRP D. Francisco de Almeida.
Picture (top): The Multi-Purpose Ship for the Portuguese Navy (by Damen).
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