Damen Naval Completes Complex Midlife Update of HNLMS Johan de Witt

Landing Platform Dock HNLMS Johan de Witt has left the Damen Naval shipyard in Vlissingen-Oost. Over the past 13 months, the amphibious transport ship has undergone a comprehensive Midlife Update (MLU) in conjunction with the third period of Appointed Maintenance (BO3).

Despite the tight schedule and several challenges, the ship was handed over to the Defense Materiel Organization (DMO) on Friday March 31, on schedule. The ship will now be towed to Den Helder, where the Naval Maintenance and Sustainment Agency, together with Damen Naval, will carry out some additional work.

"We are extremely proud, together with Defense, to have been able to complete this complex project as planned. We have worked extremely hard over the past year and the result exceeds our expectations," said Damen Naval's Project Director Fer Tummers. "Our company has had a close relationship with the Royal Netherlands Navy since 1905 and this project is the most recent example of the excellent cooperation between Damen Naval and the DMO, the Naval Maintenance and Sustainment Agency (DMI) and the crew of the Johan de Witt."

The MLU/BO3 was a joint project between Damen Naval and Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen (DSV). The companies share a shipyard in Vlissingen-Oost, where the Johan de Witt arrived on 3 March 2022. In July 2022, the ship was moved to DSV's dry dock for, among other things, conservation work on the underwater hull, superstructure, and all tanks. In November 2022, the Johan de Witt left the dry dock ahead of schedule and work continued quayside.

There were 69 MLU items planned, including refurbishment or replacement of equipment such as armament and communication systems, freshwater production (RO units), seawater pumps for firefighting and cooling, and more. The bridge, joint operations room, command, and engineering centre were completely refurbished, and the masts were also rebuilt. Over 60 km of new cables were pulled, and new decking installed. Medical facilities on board, such as the operating room, IC beds and nursing room, were completely modernized.

HNLMS Johan de Witt is the second Landing Platform Dock that Damen Naval has built for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Construction of the 176.35-meter vessel began in 2003 at the Damen Naval shipyard in Romania, and in 2004 the hull was towed to Vlissingen, where it was further completed. Completion and commissioning followed in 2007.

Fer Tummers: "HNLMS Johan de Witt is a maritime all-rounder and one of the finest ships we have had the pleasure of building for the Royal Netherlands Navy. It is therefore extra special to have her back in Vlissingen 15 years after delivery for this MLU/BO3. With the maintenance and upgrades the LPD has now had, the ship is all set to be able to her job for the next 15 years."

Damen Naval – Securing Our Seas

Damen Naval is the dedicated naval shipbuilding division of the Damen Shipyards Group, which brings together all the naval activities of the group, both in the Netherlands and abroad.

With roots stretching back almost 150 years – to the Royal Schelde yard in Vlissingen – Damen Naval is the only naval original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the Netherlands. Having delivered more than 400 vessels to customers all around the world, we are a trusted partner in the international marketplace, known for our role as full-service provider, or integrator, throughout the lifecycle of our products.

While taking pride in our heritage, we are looking towards the future.