The Dutch Ministry of Defence is significantly expanding its sea transport capacity in the coming years. Shipping company Spliethoff will supply two identical container and roll-on/roll-off (ConRo) vessels: Trica and Plyca.
These ships can transport containers, vehicles and helicopters, enabling Dutch Defence to move equipment more quickly by sea. The contracts were signed on 15 December.
Trica will operate permanently for Defence from its handover on 30 May. Plyca will be available on call from 20 January, with a notice period of twenty days. Each ConRo vessel can transport up to 300 vehicles, 694 containers, or a combination of both.
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New Amsterdam and Southern Rock
Defence currently operates the MV New Amsterdam and the MV Southern Rock. The New Amsterdam has been leased since 2022 for a period of ten years and has a capacity comparable to the new vessels. The Southern Rock is a smaller type of ship.
With this expansion, from the end of May 2026 Defence will have the permanently available Trica and the on-call Plyca from Spliethoff at its disposal. The ships are primarily intended to enable the effective deployment and support of units in the event of a large-scale conflict, but will also be used to support units in deployment and training areas.
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Ship’s crane
At Defence’s request, both Trica and Plyca will be fitted with their own ship’s crane, allowing them to load and unload independently of shore facilities. In addition, Trica will be equipped with so-called “fingers”, enabling the loading ramp to be deployed in sections and used at narrower quays.
The contract not only strengthens the armed forces’ logistical capabilities, but also represents an investment in a Dutch company, thereby encouraging cooperation with the civilian sector. Deployment of the ships will be managed by the Defence Support Command.
Picture: The Spliethoff ConRo ships can transport containers, vehicles and helicopters (photo by Dutch Ministry of Defence).
