Bolder-class tugboat

The Bolder class, formerly known as the Line Handling Work Boat, was announced on 21 November 2022 by the Royal Netherlands Navy. Its primary task is moving large fenders and helping to dock larger ships at the Nieuwe Haven Naval Base by moving lines. The LHWB ships replaced the five ships from the Schelde class. They were built by Stormer Marine in Hoorn. Delivery of the first vessel took place on 22 November 2023, the second on 9 July 2024, and the last 3 April 2025.^[1][2][3][4]

Y8023 Bolder
Class overview
Name	Bolder-class
Builders	Stormer Marine, Hoorn
Operators	Royal Netherlands Navy
Preceded by	Schelde class
Built	2022-2025
In service	2023-present
Planned	3
Completed	3
Active	3
General characteristics
Type	Harbour tugboat
Displacement	9.5 t (9 long tons) full load
Length	11 m (36 ft 1 in)
Beam	4 m (13 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	Fully electric
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Range	43 nautical miles (80 km; 49 mi)
Capacity	8 passengers
Crew	2

Ships in class

The name of the class was announced as the Bolder class on 20 June 2023. The names of the ships are inspired by Dutch terms used in the towing industry: Bolder, Beting and Bakspier, respectively.^[5]

Bolder class construction data

Hull number	Name	Builder	In service	Status	Notes
Y8023	Bolder	Stormer Marine, Hoorn	22 November 2023	In active service	[1][2][3][5][4]
Y8024	Beting		9 July 2024	In active service	[1][2][3][5]
Y8025	Bakspier		3 April 2025	In active service	[1][2][3][5]

See also

• Future of the Royal Netherlands Navy