Netherlands Infomation Services BV, THE HAGUE: Defence State Secretary Cees van der Knaap has made an agreement with several companies for the construction of four patrol ships. The ships will cost 467.8 million euros, 27.8 million more than originally budgeted.
The state secretary expects to conclude a contract next month. The main contracts for building the ships and related systems are going to Schelde Marinebouw shipyard, sister company Damen Shipyard Galatz, which will carry out the shipbuilding in Romania, and Thales Nederland.
The ships will operate in the lower part of the violence spectrum. They have a life of 25 years and will be equipped with NH90 helicopters, Van der Knaap said.
The ships are intended for coastal watch tasks in the Netherlands, the waters around the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba and international security tasks. Van der Knaap expects the first ship to be delivered to the navy in 2011 and the last in 2013.
Operating costs are expected to be 5.3 million euros per ship per year. This includes the costs of each vessel's crew of 30.
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