Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange christened the Combat Support Ship (CSS) Den Helder at Damen Naval in Vlissingen on Saturday, 22 February. The new replenishment ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy features a high level of automation and marks the start of a large-scale fleet replacement.
The christening marks a special and symbolic milestone for the new replenishment ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The festive ceremony at the shipyard of main contractor Damen Naval in Vlissingen was attended by 1100 guests, including the State Secretary for Defence, Gijs Tuinman, Damen Shipyards CEO Arnout Damen, Deputy Commander of the Materiel and IT Command, Major General Harold Boekholt, and Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Vice Admiral René Tas.
During her first solo working visit, Princess Amalia spoke the traditional words, ‘I name you Den Helder and wish you and your crew safe travels,’ before smashing a bottle of champagne against the hull of the CSS. As the ship’s christener, the Crown Princess will have a special connection with the vessel for the duration of its service life. After ceremonially cutting the final mooring line with a small ceremonial axe, the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy played the Wilhelmus, the Dutch national anthem.
‘This is a special day for Damen Naval. It is a great honour to welcome the Princess of Orange to our shipyard. In doing so, she сontinues a long-standing tradition of the Royal Family’s connection to ships for the Royal Netherlands Navy, designed and built by De Schelde, now Damen Naval,’ said Damen Naval Managing Director Roland Briene.
Essential logistical function
The new naval vessel will supply other ships with fuel, ammunition, spare parts and food. Yet, it can also provide emergency relief after natural disasters and is deployable for counterdrug operations in the Caribbean.
The last time a new Netherlands naval ship was christened was in 2014, when Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert named the Joint logistic Support Ship (JSS) HNLMS Karel Doorman. The replenishment ship Den Helder is the second naval vessel, alongside HNLMS Karel Doorman, to have an essential logistical function.
Also read: VIDEO: Combat Support Ship in Den Helder for first time
Built in Romania, to be completed at Den Helder
The Den Helder was built at Damen Shipyards’ yard in Galaţi, Romania. 48 months after the first steel was cut, the vessel left for the Netherlands in mid-November. This voyage was also immediately the trial run with the first sailing tests. These included propulsion and safety, radar and navigation systems tests. The ship also already called at the port of Den Helder.
In Vlissingen, the shipbuilders will now put the finishing touches to the ship. It will then sail to Den Helder for, among other things, the installation of weapon systems and sensors. This is done under the direction of Materiel and IT Command (COMMIT) of the Dutch Ministry of Defence, which works together with the Materiel Conservation Directorate.
Also read: VIDEO: Dutch Combat Support Ship makes first port call
Combat Support Ship
The CSS is designed for global deployment and can also be used for humanitarian aid and the transport of goods. The vessel will be equipped with a Role 2 medical facility. The nearly 180-metre-long ship will accommodate a core crew of 76, with space for an additional eighty personnel.
The new ship is designed to sustain a task force of six vessels at sea, even in adverse weather conditions, by supplying fuel, food, water, ammunition, and other essential goods. To support this role, the CSS can carry more than eight million litres of fuel.
Also read: VIDEO: Construction of Combat Support Ship Den Helder enters next phase
Fewer crew members
The Den Helder is efficiently laid out and highly automated. As a result, fewer crew members are needed. The ship uses less energy and can stay at sea longer. In addition, the Den Helder has online condition monitoring. This minimises time in a maintenance dock.
Virtual reality also plays a role. The ship has been digitally recreated. Tuinman: ‘Crew members were already training with VR glasses even before the ship was finished. This also allows the maintenance team and the fire brigade to get acquainted virtually in advance.’
Also read: Damen builds virtual reality version of Combat Support Ship
Towards a new Dutch naval fleet
The Combat Support Ship heralds the replacement and broader modernisation of almost the entire Dutch naval fleet. This is the first acquisition to be visible. According to Tuinman, the naval port should ‘rapidly take on a look that will deter adversaries, and reassure the Dutch’.
The ship is the result of close cooperation between Damen Naval, the Ministry of Defence, and the entire network of national suppliers. Additionally, this project supports the Maritime Manufacturing Industry Sector Agenda, reinforcing Vlissingen and Zeeland as key hubs for naval shipbuilding.
Briene: ‘The christening of the CSS marks the beginning of a large-scale fleet replacement and reinforcement programme for our Royal Netherlands Navy. It underscores our longstanding and strategic partnership with the Ministry of Defence, which is now focused on renewal and acceleration. Here in Vlissingen, the heart of Dutch naval shipbuilding, we are dedicating resources and capacity to this urgent fleet modernisation. To achieve this, we work closely with a wide range of Dutch companies, research institutes, and, of course, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. We have been doing this for 150 years — and we will continue to do so.’
Also read: New Dutch Combat Support Ship on sea trials
From new frigates to auxiliary vessels
As the CSS project enters its final phase, Damen Naval and the Ministry of Defence can now focus on a range of programmes developed through a strategic partnership. These initiatives align with the 2024 Defence White Paper (Strong. Smart. Together.), which aims to rapidly restore the armed forces to full operational strength and foster long-term collaboration with strategic industries. Damen Naval is the Netherlands’ national partner for the navy in this effort.
Key programmes include the development of new Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates for both the Netherlands and Belgium. In addition, plans are underway to replace the Air Defence and Command Frigates of the De Zeven Provinciën class, introduce new Amphibious Transport Ships, and develop smaller auxiliary vessels such as the Multirole Support Ship (MSS).
This approach achieves two key goals: maintaining a strong, future-proof national naval shipbuilding industry while also ensuring that the Netherlands plays a meaningful role in the growing demand for European defence industry cooperation.
Also read: Future of Dutch navy lies mainly in unmanned systems
Crucial capability for NATO
Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Vice Admiral Tas: ‘The christening of the Combat Support Ship is a special moment — an important step following the successful completion of its sea trials. This vessel will not only provide a crucial capability within the Netherlands naval fleet, but also within NATO operations. Replenishment ships are indispensable for maritime operations, enabling other vessels to remain at sea for extended periods. The Royal Netherlands Navy looks forward to welcoming the ship to its home port of Den Helder for the first time. Seeing this new naval vessel here today fills me with pride.’
‘Europe must take more responsibility for its own security and stand more on its own feet militarily,’ reiterated Tuinman. ‘The Den Helder is making an indispensable contribution. There is a lot of need for that within NATO. As Napoleon said: “an army marches on its stomach”. Similarly, an alliance sails on fuel and its galley.’
The Den Helder will be commissioned on 1 October. Then it will also be given the prefix His Netherlands Majesty’s Ship (HNLMS).
Picture (top): Princess Amalia christens Damen Naval’s new Combat Support Ship Den Helder for Royal Netherlands Navy (photo Damen Naval).
