Cerberus-class diving support vessel

The Cerberus class are four diving support vessels in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy. Built by Scheepswerf Visser at Den Helder, their mission is to help the explosive ordnance disposal unit with bomb disposal and to serve as a platform to train new navy divers.

HNLMS Argus during the 2015 naval days in Den Helder
Class overview
Name	Cerberus class
Builders	Scheepswerf Visser (now Damen Den Helder)
Operators	Royal Netherlands Navy
Preceded by	Triton class Dokkum class
In commission	1992–present[1]
Planned	4
Completed	4
Active	4
General characteristics
Type	Diving support vessel
Displacement	223 t[1][2]
Length	27.94 m (91 ft 8 in)[1][2]
Beam	8.76 m (28 ft 9 in)[1][2]
Height	13.2 m (43 ft 4 in)[1]
Draft	1.50 m (4 ft 11 in)[1][2]
Propulsion	2 × Volvo Penta TADM 122A[1]
Speed	10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph)[1]
Crew	6[1][2]

Ships in class

Hull number	Name	Builder	Commissioned	Status	Badge	Notes
A851	Cerberus	Scheepswerf Visser	28 February 1992	In active service		[1]
A852	Argus		2 June 1992	In active service		[1]
A853	Nautilus		18 August 1992	In active service		[1]
A854	Hydra		20 November 1992	In active service		[1]

Construction and career

Hydra with the 10.5-metre (34 ft) extension.

Two of the ships have undergone modifications since being commissioned. In 1997 Hydra received a 10.5-metre (34 ft) extension in the mid-section and a new bow thruster among other things. The lengthening gave here a new displacement of 340 t. Nautilus followed with the same modifications in 2008. As a result, these two ships can carry an additional 2 crew and 22 passengers.^[2]

All ships are set to be replaced along with the Mercuur, Pelikaan, Snellius class, Soemba and the Van Kinsbergen by a common family of ships. The builder of the new ships will be selected in 2024.^[3][4][5]