HNLMS Hydrograaf

HNLMS Hydrograaf (H8021) is a expeditionary survey boat (ESB) of the Royal Netherlands Navy.^[5]

Hydrograaf
Class overview
Name	Expeditionary survey boat (ESB)
Builders	Damen Group, Den Helder, Netherlands
Operators	Royal Netherlands Navy
Built	2019–2021
In commission	2021–present
Planned	1
Completed	1
Active	1
History
Netherlands
Name	Hydrograaf
Laid down	2019
Launched	21 January 2021[1]
Commissioned	26 February 2021[2]
Homeport	Den Helder
Identification	Pennant number: H8021
Status	in active service
General characteristics [3][4]
Type	Expeditionary Survey Boat (ESB)
Tonnage	22 GT
Length	15.70 m (51 ft 6 in)
Beam	4.27 m (14 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	2 diesel engines 1,564 hp (1,166 kW)
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Crew	4
Armament	1 × MAG machine gun

History

Hydrograaf at the commissioning ceremony

Hydrograaf fills the gap between the Snellius-class hydrographic survey vessels and the rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) or sloops which are launched from the larger ships from the Dutch Navy. The RHIBs and sloops became to small or old to be used effectively and sail further from the mother ship.

In 2016 the DMO wrote a European invitation to tender for the construction of one ESB. In March 2019 a contract was signed with Damen Den Helder and construction started later that year. The Hydrograaf was launched on 21 January 2021 and commissioned on 26 February 2021 via video call by then State Secretary for Defence Barbara Visser.^[1][2]

The ESB is carried in a davit on board a Rotterdam-class landing platform dock or HNLMS Karel Doorman to its work area. Hydrograaf has a range of 100 nautical miles (190 km; 120 mi) and an operation time of 60 hours at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph).^[3][4]