Noordzee-class tugboat

The Noordzee class are a class of tugboats used by the Royal Netherlands Navy to dock their larger ships at the Nieuwe Haven Naval Base.[1]

Noordzee and Waddenzee towing HNLMS Rotterdam (centre) in 2016
Class overview
NameNoordzee class
BuildersDamen Group
Operators Royal Netherlands Navy
Preceded byLinge class
Built1986–1997
In commission1987–present
Planned3
Completed3
Active3
General characteristics
TypeCoastal tugboat
Displacement575 tons
Length28.67 m (94 ft 1 in)
Beam10.43 m (34 ft 3 in)
Draught4.9 m (16 ft 1 in)
PropulsionDiesel-electric engines
Speed13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) (maximum)
Complement5

History

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In January 2014 it was announced that the older Linge-class tugboats were not capable enough anymore to handle the newer larger vessels like HNLMS Karel Doorman and the four oldest ships would be replaced by three Damen build hybrid tugboats. These would become the Noordzee class.[1][2]

With the arrival of the first new tugboat, HNLMS Noordzee, the older tugboats did not prove completely useless when the power onboard Noordzee shut off due to contaminated fuel along the coast of North-Holland and HNLMS Hunze had to assist.[3] As an avocation to their main purpose they are used for trips with guests around the harbour.

Ships in class

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Hull number Name Builder Launched Commissioned Status Picture Notes
A871 HNLMS Noordzee Damen Group, Galati 11 July 2016 In active service   [4]
A872 HNLMS Waddenzee 11 July 2016 In active service   [4]
A873 HNLMS Zuiderzee 11 July 2016 In active service [4]

Namesakes

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All the ships are named after seas with current or former Dutch shores:

Citations

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  1. ^ a b "Noordzeeklasse sleepboten" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Lingeklasse sleepboten" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Nieuwe sleepboot Noordzee aangekomen in Den Helder" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Nieuwe sleepboten overgedragen" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 1 December 2022.