The Portuguese Navy has contracted Damen Shipyards Group to design, build and equip a state-of-the-art multipurpose vessel. The project follows a European tendering process and is funded by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF) which is part of NextGenerationEU (the economic recovery package to support EU Member States affected by the COVID-19 pandemic).
Damen has developed this 107m multipurpose vessel based on the specific requirements of the Portuguese Navy. The resulting design is truly a multi-purpose platform for ocean search, search and rescue, emergency assistance, naval support operations and classic naval operations. For this purpose, the vessel will be able to deploy unmanned drones and helicopters. The vessel will be equipped with laboratories and accommodation for scientific personnel. UUVs and USVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles and Unmanned Surface Vehicles) will be able to operate from the vessel. It will have a 94×11 meter flight deck and hangars. The new vessel will be classified by the Portuguese Navy as a Multipurpose Naval Platform (PNM). It will have room for twelve 20-foot shipping containers. Therefore, modular systems can be installed.
“We are proud to have been chosen to build this impressive vessel for the Portuguese Navy. We are convinced that this vessel will be a major milestone in the maritime sector. It is the first of its kind, with the highest capabilities to create awareness, develop and manage all types of drones. The multi-purpose functionality of this vessel will enable the Portuguese Navy to deploy the most demanding missions…” said a top Damen executive.
The Portuguese Navy currently has two Damen-built vessels in service. These are the 122-meter-long Bartolomeu Dias-class multipurpose frigates NRP Bartolomeu Dias and NRP D. Francisco de Almeida. Both vessels initially served in the Royal Netherlands Navy (as Karel Doorman-class frigates) before undergoing a substantial modernization program by Damen and the Netherlands Command Materiel and IT (COMMIT).
