Snellius-class hydrographic survey vessel

The Snellius class are two hydrographic survey vessel (HOV) ships in service with the hydrographic branch of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The ships were built by the Damen Group, with the hull being built in Romania by Damen Shipyards Galați and the fitting out in the Netherlands by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding.[1][2]

HNLMS Snellius entering Scheveningen port
Class overview
NameSnellius class
BuildersDamen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding
Operators Royal Netherlands Navy
Preceded by
Built2002–2004 [1]
In commission2003-present
Planned2
Completed2
Active2
General characteristics
TypeHydrographic survey vessel
Displacement1,875 t (1,845 long tons)[1][2]
Length75 m (246 ft 1 in)[1][2]
Beam13.1 m (43 ft 0 in)[1][2]
Draft4 metres (13 ft 1 in)[1][2]
Propulsion2 diesel engines 1,564 hp (1,166 kW)[1][2]
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)[1][2]
Crew18 [1][2]
Armament2 12.7 mm machine guns (optional)

The current Snellius is the third hydrographic vessel with this name, being named after the mathematician Willebrord Snellius.[3] Named after the hydrographer Johan Lambertus Hendrikus Luymes, the Luymes is also the third hydrographic vessel with this name although the first ship never entered service.[4]

Design and description

Designed for oceanographic and hydrographic research, vessels of the Snellius class measure 75 metres (246 ft 1 in) long with a beam of 13.1 m (43 ft 0 in) and a draught of 4 m (13 ft 1 in). They have fully loaded displacement of 1,875 tonnes (1,845 long tons). The ships are powered by a diesel-electric system composed of two Caterpillar Acert diesel generators producing 1,166 kilowatts (1,564 hp). The generators produce enough electricity to also cover the ships hotel loads.[1][2]

Ships in class
HNLMS Luymes (A803)
Hull number Name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Status Badge Notes
A802 Snellius Damen Shipyards Galați (Hull)

Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (Fitting out)

 25 June 2002 30 April 2003 20 February 2003 In active service [3]
A803 Luymes 25 June 2002 3 June 2004 In active service [4]

Construction and career

On 25 June 2002 construction officially started for both ships with a keel laying ceremony at the Galați shipyard on behalf of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. This marked the first occasion of a Dutch naval ship to be partly built in Romania. A year later Snellius arrived in Vlissingen for fitting out.[2]

On 14 July 2021 it was announced that the mid-life update of Snellius was completed by Damen. Work included the replacement or complete overhaul of various systems including SEWACO systems. The maintenance period lasted about a year. Luymes underwent the same maintenance and modernisation work a year earlier.[5][6]

Both ships are set to be replaced alongside the Mercuur, Pelikaan, Cerberus class, Soemba and the Van Kinsbergen by a common family of ships. The builder of the new ships will be selected in 2024.[7][8]

Citations
  1. "Hydrografische opnemingsvaartuigen" (in Dutch). Ministerie van Defensie. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  2. "Snelliusklasse Hydrografische Opnemingsvaartuigen (HOV)" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  3. "Zr.Ms. Snellius Hydrografisch opnemingsvaartuig" (in Dutch). Ministerie van Defensie. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  4. "Zr.Ms. Luymes Hydrografisch opnemingsvaartuig" (in Dutch). Ministerie van Defensie. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  5. "Damen to perform MLU on Dutch naval vessels". Baird Maritime. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  6. "Damen Completes Modernisation And Maintenance Of HNLMS 'Snellius'". Naval News. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  7. "Vervanging van tien Nederlandse marineschepen ineens" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  8. "Bouwer 8 nieuwe hulpvaartuigen in 2024 bekend" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
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