DSS Galatea
 DSS Galatea | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Netherlands | |
| Name | Galatea |
| Builder | Damen Group |
| Launched | 2010 |
| In service | 2025–present |
| Home port | Den Helder |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Patrol vessel[1] |
| Tonnage | 427 GT |
| Length | 50.25 m (164 ft 10 in) |
| Beam | 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in) |
| Crew | 9[2] |
DSS Galatea is a patrol vessel of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN).[3][4] She is temporarily leased from Damen by the Dutch Ministry of Defence and will be used until the Multifunctional Support Ships enter service in 2027.[5][6] While the ship is used by the RNLN it is not formally part of the Dutch fleet, instead Galatea is classified as state ship (Dutch: Staatsschip) rather than naval ship.[6][5] She will be manned by civilians from the Dutch company Fugro.[7]
Design and construction
The design of the Galatea is based on the Damen Fast Crew Supplier 5009.[6] She has a length of 50 meters and can be equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned underwater vehicles.[8]
Galatea was built in 2010 by Damen in Vietnam.[6] The lease of the ship is funded by the North Sea Infrastructure Protection Programme (PBNI) of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.[4]
Service history
During the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague Galatea patrolled the North Sea near the Dutch coast.[3][9]
In January 2026 it was reported that Galatea was escorting Russian ships, which included General Skobolev and Boiky, while they were in Dutch waters.[10]
In July 2026 it was reported that Galatea took part in an exercise to demonstrate and test uncrewed systems in the North Sea.[11] During these maritime uncrewed sea trials Galatea was deployed as an at-sea C2 centre.[12]
References
- ↑ Stijn Jaspers (10 June 2026). "'We kunnen niet langer naïef zijn'". Alle Hens (in Dutch). Defensie Dichtbij.
- ↑ Nico Schinkelshoek (16 July 2025). "Sommige schepen over 10 jaar mogelijk zelfvarend". Alle Hens. Defensie.nl.
- 1 2 Milo Breedveld (18 June 2025). "Patrouilleschip DSS Galatea gaat Noordzee bewaken tijdens Navo-top; ook daarna moet het Russen afschrikken". AD.nl (in Dutch).
- 1 2 Mariska Buitendijk (20 June 2025). "New Dutch naval patrol vessel immediately deployed". SWZ|Maritime.
- 1 2 "Nieuw patrouillevaartuig marine gelijk in actie tijdens NAVO-top". Defensie.nl (in Dutch). 18 June 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Jaime Karremann (18 June 2025). "Nieuw schip wordt gelijk ingezet voor NAVO-top". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch).
- ↑ "Marine zet surveillanceschip van Damen in om NAVO-top te beschermen". Schuttevaer (in Dutch). 18 June 2025.
- ↑ "Zwaarbewapende marineschepen voor kust vanwege NAVO-top, te bekijken vanaf strand of boulevard". Omroep West (in Dutch). 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Nieuw patrouillevaartuig marine gelijk in actie tijdens NAVO-top". Rijksoverheid (in Dutch). 18 June 2025.
- ↑ "Marine houdt Russische schepen op Noordzee nauw in de gaten". Defensiekrant (in Dutch). Defensie Dichtbij. 23 January 2026.
- ↑ Mariska Buitendijk (9 July 2026). "Dutch Navy trials uncrewed systems in the North Sea". SWZ|Maritime.
- ↑ Lee Willett (20 July 2026). "Royal Netherlands Navy Integrates Uncrewed Systems into Fleet Combat Management System". Naval News.