The Dutch JSS: HNLMS Karel Doorman for Sale



The program’s last-reported budget is EUR 365.5 million (currently about $485 million). Karel Doorman is due for delivery in 2014, in order to become operational in mid-2015. The question will be whether the program can remain on budget and on-schedule, or whether the versatility requested will create design and testing challenges that will raise the final price, and result in late delivery. So far, the ship is precisely on schedule.

Size: The Dutch JSS design measures 205m/ 672’6″ long with 30m/ 98’5″ beam, and 27,800t total displacement. That offers much more space compared to the 190m length, 20m beam, and 16,900t displacement of the replenishment ship HNLMS Zuiderkruis, which was decommissioned on Feb 10/12.

Power: Ship power and propulsion will come from 5 diesel generators offering up to 25 MW, and speeds of up to 18 knots will be achieved using 2 main electric motors of 9 MW each, driving 2 fixed-pitch propeller shaftlines, 2 bow thruster pods, and 1 stern thruster pod.

Logistics: In order to fulfill its main supply role, the Dutch JSS will have 2 Replenishment-At-Sea masts, an elevator and crane for up to 40 tonnes, a large (“2000 lanemeters”) vehicle storage or evacuee holding area with roll on/roll off (Ro-Ro) capability, and a “steel beach” stern design for cargo transfer via landing craft. A large helicopter deck can handle up to 2 CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, and the hangar will be able to hold up to 6 NH90 helicopters with rotors folded, or 2 CH-47 Chinooks with rotors operational. By comparison, HNLMS Zuiderkruis used to carry 2 smaller Lynx helicopters.

Making full use of the new ship will require either (1) additional NH90 orders; (2) leased helicopters, just as the USA uses leased AS330 Pumas for its T-AKE supply ships; or (3) using some of the Dutch RNLAF’s Boeing CH-47D/F Chinooks and/or Eurocopter AS532-U2 Cougar Mk2s on board.

At present, Dutch NH90 orders involve 12 NH90 NFH naval anti-submarine helicopters, and 8 marinized NH90 TTH medium transports that could equip its LPDs and JSS ship. Specifying the Chinook for ship hangar storage is very unusual, as it isn’t marinized against the salt-water environment, and its height and features make it less than ideal for naval storage. Diagrams provided in the Parliamentary briefing clearly show stowed Chinooks, however, and the CH-47 will remain the Netherlands’ main heavy-lift helicopter option into the foreseable future. As such, designing the ship to operate with Chinooks gives the Karel Doornan unique and useful options when operating with other Dutch services, or with allies.

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