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Netherlands painted itself into a corner with its dependence on Damen shipyard
🇳🇱 Netherlands /Economy & Trade

Netherlands painted itself into a corner with its dependence on Damen shipyard

From NRC Handelsblad · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Dutch Ministry of Defense is facing confusion and criticism over its new Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates contract with Damen Shipyards.
  • The first ship's delivery is delayed until at least 2033 due to design changes that made the frigates longer and heavier.
  • Parliament is demanding more transparency from the Ministry of Defense regarding its complex relationship with Damen, which is facing financial, design, and legal issues.

The Dutch Ministry of Defense is embroiled in controversy surrounding its contract for new Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates with the shipbuilder Damen Shipyards. A recent briefing to the Defense Committee of the House of Representatives revealed significant delays and cost overruns, leading to confusion and alarm among parliamentarians.

Initially, the project involved building two ASW frigates for the Dutch navy and two for the Belgian navy. However, the first ship is now expected to be delivered no earlier than 2033. This delay is attributed to a recent "rebalancing" of the design, which resulted in the frigates being seven meters longer and considerably heavier than initially planned. While the Ministry of Defense has been tight-lipped about the financial implications, citing confidentiality, the parliamentary committee has expressed a strong desire for more information and oversight.

a materieelproject

— Jan Paternotte (D66)Referring to the frigate project in the House of Representatives, using a veiled term due to confidentiality.

Members of Parliament have voiced concerns, with one requesting a detailed letter from the State Secretary of Defense, seeking public disclosure of certain information. Another parliamentarian urged the committee to consider placing the new ASW frigates under the 'major projects regulation,' which would mandate more frequent reporting to Parliament. This reflects a broader sentiment within the committee that more transparency is needed regarding the Ministry's relationship with Damen Shipyards.

Damen Shipyards, the preferred builder for 22 out of 28 large surface vessels to be replaced by the Ministry of Defense over the next fifteen years, is reportedly facing a series of financial, design, and legal challenges. In Belgium, the Minister of Defense described the situation as a "complete design crisis," noting that the costs for the frigates, which still exist only on paper, have already increased by 40 percent between 2018 and 2023, from 1.3 to 1.8 billion euros (2022 price level). These ongoing issues suggest that the Dutch government's reliance on Damen may have painted it into a corner.

we had during the briefing Kamerbreed het gevoel dat we hierover meer op de bal willen zitten

— Michelle Jagtenberg (D66)Explaining the parliamentary committee's desire for more oversight on the frigate project.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by NRC Handelsblad in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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