The Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands and Damen Shipyards have signed a contract for the construction of three medium-sized patrol vessels for the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. The so-called cutters are expected to become operational in early 2029.
The patrol ships will replace the current vessels in the Caribbean, which have been in service for more than 25 years.
The Ministry of Defence is procuring the vessels for the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, which is responsible in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom for maritime surveillance, law enforcement and search and rescue at sea. Tasks include policing duties, border control, patrols and search-and-rescue operations.
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Larger vessels
The current cutters – Jaguar, Panter and Poema – entered service in the late 1990s. The vessels of the Damen Stan Patrol 4100 type have delivered reliable service for many years, but their age has led to increasing maintenance and costs. They will therefore be replaced by a new generation of patrol ships.
At 50 metres in length, the new Damen Stan Patrol 5009 cutters will be over 7 metres longer than the predecessor vessels. This additional length will allow the vessels to operate with more comfort in higher sea states and for longer periods. This is important given the sometimes rough sea conditions in the Caribbean, where ocean swells can make smaller vessels unstable and less suitable for long patrols.
Modern sensors
The new cutters will also be equipped with modern sensors, including advanced radar and infrared cameras. These systems will allow crews to maintain effective surveillance even at night or in poor visibility, strengthening the Coast Guard’s operational capabilities.
In many ways, the SPa 5009 represents the evolution of the earlier vessels. The SPa 4100 was the first Damen vessel to apply the Enlarged Ship Concept. With this, Damen designed the vessels with a long, slender hull to reduce vertical acceleration, enhancing onboard comfort and operational capacity in heavy seas.
This paved the way for the development of the Axe Bow, featured on the SPa 5009, which allows the vessel to cut through waves, reducing both slamming and fuel consumption.
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Custom solution
To fully meet the requirements of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, Damen will customise the standard design of the SPa 5009. This includes provision of specified levels of crew comfort, a high level of systems integration and additional firefighting (FiFi) capabilities.
Additionally, Damen is to deliver a comprehensive integrated logistics support (ILS) package, providing the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard with the resources necessary to operate and maintain the vessels’ systems throughout the lifecycle.
Larger and faster interceptor boats
In addition to the cutters, Damen Workboats will also deliver four fast interceptor boats. Each cutter will carry one of these vessels, intended to intercept fast smuggling boats, known as “go-fasts”, which are often used for drug trafficking in the Caribbean. An additional interceptor will be available for training and maintenance rotation. The new interceptors will be larger than the current models, enabling them to maintain higher speeds even in rougher seas.
With the arrival of the new cutters and interceptors, the Netherlands Coast Guard will receive modern equipment better suited to today’s tasks, making an important contribution to safety and law enforcement in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The contract was awarded following a tender procedure.
Picture: Artist impression of the three new patrol vessels at sea (image by Dutch Ministry of Defence).
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