Damen Marine Components (DMC) has received the order to design, engineer and produce eight rudders for the four Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Frigates that Damen Naval is building for the Belgian and Dutch navies. Each vessel will be equipped with two rudders, developed to be resilient and to improve the hydrodynamic properties of the vessels.
The ASWFs will replace the M-Frigate class vessels as of 2029. In addition to surface and sub-surface duties for monitoring or repelling submarines, these four ships will be deployed for several other (inter)national tasks. The vessels are built and outfitted at Damen Naval shipyards in Romania and the Netherlands in close collaboration with the Dutch and Belgian Ministries of Defence, navies and suppliers.
Artist impression of the ASW Frigate (image by Damen).
Also read: Damen brings in Alfa Laval for ASW Frigates
Silent sailing and shock resistant
As the focus is on anti-submarine duties, much attention goes into creating vessels that sail as silent as possible, for example as to propulsion, pumps and moving parts. This is where DMC’s range of naval products comes into play, especially the Atlantic type family of rudders, which have also been installed on earlier frigates and are adapted to their specific operational profile.
A special requirement for naval operations is that the whole vessel, including the rudders, needs to be built to shock resistant specifications. The eight new rudders are designed to withstand shock loads. DMC has strengthened critical areas and has applied special welding details, based on both experience and extensive calculations.
Picture (top): DMC naval rudder (photo by DMC).
Also read: Optimarin supplies ballast water treatment for ASW Frigates
