Portugal orders multifunctional drone carrier from Damen

Damen Shipyards has signed a new contract. It may build the newest ship for the Portuguese Navy. The ship must serve in various roles, from oceanographic research to combat roles. It will be the third Damen ship in service in Portugal: the M-frigates Bartolomeu Dias and Dom Francisco de Almeida previously sailed in Dutch service as the Van Nes and Van Galen, but were sold to Portugal in 2006. It is the first new ship that the Dutch shipyard is building for Portugal.

Illustration of the Plataforma Naval Multifuncional (PRR). The ship may be quite small, but it has a continuous flight deck and ramp, with which major steps can be taken as a drone carrier. (Image: Damen)

The contract was signed last Friday by Admiral Jorge Pires, responsible for surface ships in the Portuguese Navy, and Damen CCO Jan-Wim Dekker. Funding for the project comes from the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), intended to help EU member states recover financially after the Covid-19 pandemic. Damen will be the overarching client in the project: it will be responsible for the design as well as its construction and equipment.

Almost twenty years ago it was first known that Portugal was looking at a landing ship. Damen was immediately looked at, which with the Enforcer had a ship design that could be completely adapted to the requirements and needs of potential customers. The design shown for the Portuguese ship resembles the Enforcer 30000, or a smaller version.

(Image: Damen)

Multifunctional
The new ship itself is described by Portugal as Plataforma Naval Multifuncional (multifunctional platform, PRR). It is a cross between an amphibious transport ship and a research ship, but with a major emphasis on drone operations. The PRR is designed for a range of tasks. For example, it can be used for oceanographic research, search-and-rescue missions at sea, disaster relief, maritime security and to support other naval operations. It is precisely because of this multifunctionality that the ship is seen as a revolution in shipping.

Dronecarrier
According to a press release from Damen, the vessel will be only 107 meters long (comparable to a Holland-class patrol ship) and has a displacement of 7,000 tons. The ship will use different types of drones, both underwater and surface drones (ROVs, UUVs and USVs). These drones can use the multi-mission hangar. Behind this hangar is the system with which the drones can be taken off and on board.

The flying drones (UAVs) have their own hangar in the superstructure next to the flight deck. These drones will also use a ramp to be launched. There is also a landing spot for helicopters at the back of the flight deck.

Depending on the mission, the ship will also have various equipment, from laboratories and accommodation for scientists or hospital facilities to 650 square meters of storage space for 12 20-foot containers or around 18 vehicles, such as ambulances.

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First of its kind
“We are proud to have been selected to build this spectacular ship for the Portuguese Navy,” said Damen Shipyards Group CEO Arnout Damen at the signing of the contract. “We are convinced that this ship will represent an important milestone in the naval sector. It is the first of its kind, with the most extensive capabilities to deploy all types of drones. The multifunctional nature of this ship enables the Portuguese Navy able to undertake demanding missions while simultaneously carrying out research activities in the deepest parts of the ocean. It also underlines Damen’s close relationship with the Portuguese Navy and is a new example of cooperation in the European defense industry.”

Author: Kasper Goossens Kasper has been writing as a freelance journalist for Marineschips.nl since November 2023. He previously worked for the Belgian news website Business AM, where he specialized in defense and geopolitics. Every week he bundles the most important events in these sectors in a newsletter on Substack, ‘Defense in Brief’. Kasper studied Journalism at the Arteveldehogeschool in Ghent.

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