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It has been a busy few weeks for HNLMS Johan de Witt, both on board and on the quayside. The 15-year-old ship is currently undergoing a combination of the Appointed Maintenance (BO) that takes place every five years and an extensive Midlife Update (MLU). To date, the first cables have been pulled, new consoles for the bridge have been installed, the old sprinkler system has already been partially replaced and the office and canteen facilities on Quay E have been officially opened.
Rear Admiral Jan Willem Hartman and Director Naval Sales Support Richard Keulen celebrate the opening of the new facilities on Quay E.
The Damen Naval Project Director Fer Tummers is satisfied with the way things are going. “We work long hours and there is a lot of pressure to deliver the ship on time, but so far the project is going according to plan. The cooperation with Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen (DSV) is good and we have already reached several milestones together.”
The first recent milestone was the start of cable pulling. “In total, about 40 kilometres of cable will be removed and about the same amount of new cable pulled,” explains Fer. At a ceremony in early May, the first cable was pulled by Deputy Project Leader Jeffrey Vader on behalf of Damen Naval and Project Leader Olaf van Kampen on behalf of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).
The new consoles were hoisted on board the HNLMS Johan de Witt.
At the end of May, the first new consoles were placed on the bridge. Two days later, the new facilities on Quay E were officially opened. With special golden scissors, Rear Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, Deputy Director of the DMO, cut a ribbon and declared the buildings open. A reception followed in the new canteen, during which several speeches were made to emphasise the importance of the project and the good cooperation between Damen Naval and the DMO. The occasion was also used to celebrate the order for the execution phase of the MLU and the BO.
DMO Project Leader MLU/BO3 Olaf van Kampen, BO Project Leader Chris van Leeuwen, Damen Naval Project Director Fer Tummers and DSV Project Manager Vincent van Ruurlo toll the bell to celebrate the contract.
During the combined MLU and BO, the ship will receive some seventy-five modifications, ranging from the installation of new weapon systems to structural improvements. This also includes things like upgrading automation systems, networks, installing contemporary sports facilities and modernising the medical facilities. “In July, the ship will go into dry dock for jobs such as painting and we are currently busy preparing for that,” Fer says. “We have also now removed 15 sections of the old sprinkler system and installed almost five sections of the new system.”
At the end of 2022, the Johan de Witt will come out of dry dock and move back to the quayside until it is towed back to Den Helder at the end of March 2023, where the Naval Maintenance and Sustainment Agency has planned further necessary work and will perform sea trials.