SHAH ALAM: The Portuguese Navy has contracted Damen Shipyards Group for the design, construction and outfitting of a multi-purpose vessel (MPV), it was announced on November 24. The MPV is a helicopter landing ship (LHD) but it is not amphibious assault ship as it does not have a well deck.
According to Damen, the ship will be 107 metre long though it does not reveal the tonnage of the ship. Damen smallest Enforcer landing platform dock, marketed now, is about 120 metres long, has a tonnage of 9,000 tonnes. Apart from this, we also do not know the cost of the ship.
The MPV is interesting design for the RMN own MRSS requirements, as it is not equipped with a well deck. An MRSS without a well deck will be cheaper to operate and maintain, I believed. Of course, we also do not need the helicopter deck style of the MPV.
That said, in early 2000 or so, the South Korean proposed that RMN procured the Dokdo class LPH which was over the top of course. There was also proposal for the RMN to get a Mistral class LPH or even mini version of the LPH (the design was never revealed though). Both class of LPH are also equipped with a well deck.
The release from Damen:
Portuguese Navy signs contract with Damen Shipyards for innovative Multi-Purpose Vessel
The Portuguese Navy has contracted Damen Shipyards Group for the design, construction and outfitting of a state-of-the-art Multi-Purpose Vessel. The contract was signed by Director of Ships Rear Admiral Jorge Pires and Damen Shipyards Group CCO Jan Wim Dekker. The project follows a European tender process and is funded by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) that is part of Next Generation EU (the economic recovery package to support EU member states affected by the COVID-19 pandemic).Damen has developed this 107-metre long Multi-Purpose Vessel based on the specific requirements of the Portuguese Navy. The resulting design is truly a multi-purpose platform, with primary mission roles including oceanic research, search and rescue, and emergency relief in addition to maritime safety and naval support operations. To this end, the vessel will be capable of deploying unmanned drones and helicopters.
For the oceanic research and monitoring scope of operations, the vessel will be equipped with laboratories and accommodation for scientific staff. For the naval support aspect, the Damen-built vessel will have numerous design features to enable such operations. This will comprise a stern ramp for UUVs and USVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles and Unmanned Surface Vehicles) as well as a 94×11-metre flight deck and hangars for UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles).
The new vessel will be classified by the Portuguese Navy as a Multifunctional Naval Platform (PNM). To fully match this vessel designation, Damen has collaborated closely with the Portuguese Navy to incorporate future-versatility into the design. This consists of a 650m2 cargo deck and space for twelve 20-foot containers. Modular systems such as containerised hospital facilities, hyperbaric chambers, or ROV equipment can therefore be installed as required.
“We are proud to have been selected to build this spectacular vessel for the Portuguese Navy,” Damen Shipyards Group CEO Arnout Damen said after the contract signing ceremony. “We are convinced that this vessel will represent a major milestone in the naval sector. It is the first of its kind, with the highest capabilities to create awareness, deploy and manage all types of drones. This vessel’s multi-purpose functionality will enable the Portuguese Navy to develop the most demanding missions and at the same time the ability to perform research activities in the deepest areas of the ocean. It also underlines Damen’s firm relationship with the Portuguese Navy and shows a further example of European defence industry cooperation.”
It must be noted that the RMN MRSS requirements in recent times must have included a well deck as the ships that had been proposed for it – including a version of the Damen Enforcer and the PT PAL ones – are all equipped with them.
If we get the money, we could get Damen to modify the MPV with the Enforcer style superstructure, again without a well deck.
— Malaysian Defence
If you like this post, buy me an espresso. Paypal Payment
View Comments (28)
What is it actually? The Portuguese navy will mainly use it as a drone mothership/carrier. To support UAS, USV & UUV deployment. Secondary task HADR and oceanographic research. It has no welldeck but has a small steel beach at the stern of the ship.
Cost? 132 million Euro.
Crew? 48 + 42 drone operators/scientists
To be built in either in poland, romania, turkey or Indonesia
Basically a Portuguese mini-LHA. But as part of NATO, I guess the amphib duty is handled by another country or something.
"again without a well deck."
IMHO the MRSS should come equipped with a well deck, otherwise its no different than the current MPSS and in that case why not get more of them. Yes we dont need a through deck design (aka carrier style) but a well deck is useful for HADR operations as been proven by disaster after disaster again.
The propeller is electric?
Its like two pod propellers which is usually driven by generators which got their power from diesel engines and probably a single turbine engine as well. So yes it is likely diesel electric driven
The Turks have some similar looking designs from TAIS. At only 107m these small ships might be perfect for the TLDM.
Nah..Still long way to go..need to focus on finishing the Lcs and starting LMS B2..We dont need LHA,LHD type ship..we only need a more traditional looking lpd type that have large well/dry deck to transport vehicles like tanks,lorry,armour and maybe need just 2 to 3 heli deck with aviation hangar ofcourse
Without well deck there's no way of storing helicopters or UAVs beyond the portable/hand launched ones, exposing them to the elements (granted we're not going to be use this ship to go fighting across the globe but still). If RMN is looking for flat top LHD at least one well deck is necessary.
Great thing about flat top LHD is that we can operate larger TUAVs without resorting to awkward launching system like the ones used by Fulmars. I guess the reason why there's so many crashed Fulmars is due to small landing area, couple with moving ships made landing a non rotary winged UAV especially difficult.
The well deck got nothing to do with storing things underneath the main deck. A well deck purpose is to launch landing craft and boats from inside it. The helicopters could be stored in the hangar which is available on most LHD or LPD. As I said in the post, we could modify the MRV to have the superstructure of the Enforcer which has a hangar on the main deck and also a bigger hangar below deck.
Ah my bad..i mean hangar below deck..not the well deck..for amphibious operations
A carrier mimicking flattop design will attract a lot of controversies and wild accusations (like are we standing up an aircraft carrier force or the likes).
Same recriminations where we were linked to the Mistral boats back then.
Such a design in the JMSDF (Kaga) had also attracted a lot flak & so as SG proposed MRCV. Firdaus is right, rather we only need a more conventional LPD layout (superstructure in the middle) with a well deck for landing crafts & amphib capable IFVS.
What accusations and controversies? As long it is completed on budget and time. My proposal is to use the hull - as it deletes the well deck - but with a normal LPD bridge and a hangar so it will not look like anything like a helicopter carrier. It is not like we are building a 70,000 tonnes supercarrier.
Without the well deck, it will be easier to maintain her compared to a LPD with a well deck which needs continuous maintenance. From the CGI, she could also carry small landing craft but using cranes to lower and pull them out of water, for when it is necessary to conduct amphibious operations but without the penalty of a well deck.
There are 3 design types using US Navy as a reference. LHA, LHD, and LPD. LHA and LHD are helicopter carriers, the former without well deck for more aviation space, the latter with a well deck but less aviation space. The difference between LHA, LHD and LPD is the intended use. If you want to do assault missions, you get a LHA or LHD because of the space for aviation assets (modern doctrine, less on beach assaults, more on air assaults). If your intended use is movement of troops and equipment, LPD is sufficient. References for LHA is the Flight 0 America class and the Portuguese MPV, for LHD is the Flight 1 America class, Dokdo, Mistral and RSN's future JMSS (based on illustrations). LPD references are Indonesia's Makassar class, RSN's Endurance class, and USN San Antonio class. Personally, LPD like the Makassar class seems like a sensible choice (although LHA/LHD type has better longevity). I wonder if a Makassar without well deck is possible.
Yes there is a Makassar class without a well deck, which are the two hospital ships. But they have taken out most of the hangar space to fit the medical facilities.
Joe,
Why would a 107m flat top scare anyone?? It’s even shorter than the LCS. The only fixed wing aircraft that can operate from it will be the fleet of 18 1:35 scale Tamiya F-35Bs that the RMN will be buying soon.