Three European shipyards are in competition for the billion-euro order for four new submarines for the Royal Netherlands Navy. German Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems seeks to sway the Dutch Government to opt for their platform by promising a Submarine Vally in Den Helder.
This was announced in an advertorial published by Thyssenkrupp on the website of Dutch newspaper Noordhollands Dagblad.
The new submarines are to replace the current Walrus class. If Thyssenkrupp succeeds in obtaining the order, the company plans to convert a special site at the naval shipyard in Den Helder into a “Submarine Valley”. This site will be used to complete and maintain the new Dutch submarines.
‘If the contract is signed, the first boat can be launched five years later in the port of Den Helder,’ says Holger Isbrecht of Thyssenkrupp in the advertorial. ‘A “Centre for Submarine Sustainment and Innovation” (CSSI), also known as the Submarine Valley, will be erected on the naval site in Den Helder. We want to develop this in collaboration with the local government and industrial partners from the Dutch defence and technology sector. In doing so, we are open to all relevant parties, including Damen Shipyards, for example.’
As another benefit, Isbrecht names the transfer of knowledge and experience to the local maritime industry as well as offering education and training-on-the-job together with regional institutes. Together, this will allow Den Helder to become a European centre for underwater technology, says Isbrecht.
Other competitors
In addition to Thyssenkrupp, Swedish Saab Kockums and the French Naval Group are also trying to win the Dutch submarine contract. Both competitors have enlisted Dutch partners to strengthen their case: Saab has joined forces with Damen Shipyards, Naval with Royal IHC. Trade unions have expressed their support for both these bids as they ensure at least part of the work will be for the Dutch maritime sector.
Thyssenkrupp now seems to try to do something similar by ensuring that winning the order will also result in work for the Dutch maritime industry in the North of the Netherlands. It remains to be seen who will eventually win the contract. Much to the dismay of the maritime sector, the Dutch Government has decided to postpone the decision as to who will build the new Dutch submarines to 2021.
