Royal Netherlands Navy support ship completes mid-life upgrade at Damen

The Royal Netherlands Navy support vessel HNLMS Pelikaan has returned to the waters of the Caribbean following an eight-month mid-life upgrade programme at Damen Shipyards Den Helder.

The upgrade is expected to add another 15 years to the 2006-built vessel's service life.

Works carried out included installing new nautical, communication, and automation systems, a galley upgrade, and regular maintenance such as maintenance of the two main engines. The most important upgrade was the installation of a considerably heavier crane to enable the vessel to independently carry out emergency relief operations in the Caribbean as well as facilitate the use of a small fast interceptor boat for counter-narcotics operations.