The Nieuwe Haven in Den Helder will have more mooring capacity due to modernization of the fleet and adapted safety requirements. State Secretary Christophe van der Maat writes this in a letter to the House of Representatives. The naval port is expected to be adapted by the end of 2029.
The Nieuwe Haven is an important sea and naval port for the Netherlands. It plays a crucial role in the readiness, support and operations of modernized sailing units. The new combat support ship is expected to arrive in Den Helder next year for completion. In addition, modernization and replacement projects are underway for, among others, mine countermeasures vessels, M-frigates and submarines.
“The replacement ships are in most cases larger. This requires an expansion of the current port. Furthermore, mooring alongside each other of ships with heavy ammunition on board, such as missiles and torpedoes, is limited for safety reasons,” says Van der Maat.
The arrival of new jetties and quays ensures sufficient mooring capacity. This expansion takes into account the current replacement of ships and expansion of the fleet until 2035. Any additional space required in the future will be included in the modernization of the naval port as part of the Strategic Real Estate Plan 2022.
Defense is currently in the research phase. We look at how the construction, design and operation are approached. This is followed by the acquisition preparation phase, construction preparation and realization phase. The project budget is between € 100 and 250 million. This comes from the Defense investment budget.