Article Posted on : - Oct 25, 2011

Holland-class OPV. A Damen photo

DEN HELDER, NETHERLANDS (BNS): Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding has handed over the second Holland-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) built for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

The OPV 'Zeeland' was transferred to the Defence Materiel Organisation of the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands on October 20, the shipbuilder said.

The ship arrived at Den Helder, Netherlands, a day later.

In the near future the OPV is scheduled to conduct a work-up period from Den Helder. On completion of the second Integrated Mast Module by Thales NL, the ship will return to Vlissingen for installation of the Thales Integrated Mast Module, the Dutch shipbuilder said.

The Holland-class OPVs are designed to conduct multiple missions, including anti-piracy missions, counter-drug operations and coastal guard tasks in The Netherlands as well as the Caribbean.

The lead ship of the class, Holland, was handed over to Netherlands in May 2011.

The Netherlands has contracted Damen to build four such vessels for its Navy.