Buyskes-class hydrographic survey vessel

The Buyskes class was a class of two hydrographic survey vessels that were part of the Dutch Hydrographic Service of the Royal Netherlands Navy.[2] Together with HNLMS Tydeman the ships of this class were the main ships of the Dutch Hydrographic Service during the last quarter of the 20th century.[3] While the ships of the Buyskes class were built for performing hydrographic research, the Tydeman was focused on oceanography.[4]

Buyskes in service with the Latvian Navy as Varonis
Class overview
NameBuyskes class
BuildersBoele's Scheepswerven en Machinefabriek, Bolnes
Operators
Preceded bySnellius class
Succeeded bySnellius class
Built1972–1973
In commission1973-present
Planned2
Completed2
Active1
Scrapped1
General characteristics [1]
TypeHydrographic survey vessel
Displacement967 t (952 long tons)
Length60 m (196 ft 10 in)
Beam11.1 m (36 ft 5 in)
Draft3.7 metres (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
Speed13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph)
Crew43

Design and construction

Both ships were build at Boele's Scheepwerven en Machinefabriek B.V. in Bolnes and replaced the hydrographic survey vessels of the Snellius class.[1][5] They were equipped with the automated "Hydraut" system that allowed them to perform hydrographic measuring.[6][5] The data this system gathered was used to make detailed maps.[5][7] However, in comparison to Tydeman the Buyskes-class ships were deemed less modern.[8]

The Buyskes undertook her sea trials in January 1973, while the Blommendal did her sea trials in April 1973.[9] In the same year both ships were taken into service of the Royal Netherlands Navy.[3]

Service history

The ships were active in the North Sea.[10][11]

Blommendal was decommissioned on 15 December 1999.[12] She was followed by Buyskes four years later on 11 December 2003.[13]

Blommendal was sold to a maritime foundation, Het Maritiem Kwartier, as a tool to keep the history of older vessels alive and educate people about them.[14] She remained laid up near the NDSM yard in Amsterdam until 2016 when she was scrapped in Haarlem.[12]

In 2004 Buyskes was sold to the Latvian Navy and renamed Varonis.[15]

Ships in class
Buyskes-class construction data[1]
Ship Pennant
number		 Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Fate
Buyskes A904 31 January 1972 11 July 1972 9 March 1973 11 December 2003 Sold to Latvia in 2004[13][15]
Blommendal A905 1 August 1972 21 November 1972 22 May 1973 15 December 1999 Scrapped in 2016[12]

Notes

Citations
  1. van Amstel, pp. 91-92.
  2. van Amstel, p. 87.
  3. Raven, p. 190.
  4. "Tydeman gaat oceaanbodem onderzoeken". Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). 13 January 1977.
  5. Woudstra, p. 162.
  6. "Veel bezoek Scheepvaartdag Delfzijl". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 12 November 1979.
  7. Raven, p. 141.
  8. "„Marine kan meehelpen bij ontwikkelingssamenwerking"". Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). 11 June 1979.
  9. "Te veel water bij stapelloop". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). 22 November 1972.
  10. "Van achterkant maan weten we meer dan eigen zeebodem". Het Vrije Volk (in Dutch). 17 July 1974.
  11. Arlette Dwarkasing (26 May 1994). "Als de korporaal zakt, staat hij op straat". Trouw (in Dutch).
  12. "Blommendal" (in Dutch). Scheepvaarthoek. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  13. "Dutch survey vessel Hr. Ms. Buyskes (A 904) 1972-2004 and Latvian law enforce vessel Varonis (A90) 2004-". Warships Research. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  14. "Drijvende objecten" (in Dutch). Zaans Industrieel Erfgoed. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  15. "A-90 "Varonis"" (in Latvian).

References
  • Raven, G.J.A., ed. (1988). De kroon op het anker: 175 jaar Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Amsterdam: De Bataafsche Leeuw. ISBN 90-6707-200-1.
  • van Amstel, W.H.E. (1991). De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine vanaf 1945 (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 9060139976.
  • Woudstra, F.G.A. (1982). Onze Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 9060139151.


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