Doorman laid dormant

摘要

The Royal Netherlands Navy's new Joint Logistic Support Ship has been put out of action for up to eight months following a serious machinery breakdown. HNLMS Karel Doorman, which was commissioned only in April 2015, was about to begin joint German-Dutch cooperation, with German Navy personnel embarked to train for amphibious operations, when one of her two main electric engines was so badly damaged that it needs to be replaced entirely. While an investigation was under way to determine how the damage occurred, the department of defence has said it would seek compensation under the terms of the guarantee from the shipbuilder, Damen. Despite the loss of a training platform, the co-operation programme is set to resume during Baltops 2016 in June using the amphibious landing ship HNLMS Johan de Witt. The Deutsche Marine is looking to gain experience of amphibious operations, with plans to acquire up to three Joint Support Ships, with an LHD or LPD layout of its own in the next decade.