Crown princess Victoria of Sweden has visited the SAAB-Damen booth at the Undersea Defence Technology trade fair in Ahoy in Rotterdam. The visit underlines the importance of the various successful innovative partnerships involving the Netherlands and Sweden, including the one between SAAB and Damen Shipyards Group for the joint design and construction of the replacement for the famous Dutch Walrus-class submarines.
The Swedish crown princess is visiting the Netherlands as part of the 60th anniversary of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands and she visited a range of start-ups and innovative companies on June 7 and 8. During her visit, Princess Victoria made one stop at the Undersea Defence Technology fair. At the SAAB-Damen stand, she was briefed about the companies’ shared ambition to be at the absolute forefront of non-nuclear submarine technology in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Navy and a large number of Dutch suppliers. The ongoing development of submarine expertise in the successor to the Walrus class will give the maritime industry in both countries a huge boost. The SAAB & Damen co-operation has been going on for years already and is still intensifying.
Swedish order for Damen
Later on the same day, it was announced that Damen had won a tender from the Swedish Ministry of Defence to supply four ice-strengthened tugs, with an option for two more of these vessels. The 17-metre-long Stan Tugs 1706 ICE will be delivered next year and start operations in the ports of Stockholm and Karlskrona. The Damen Oskarshamnsvarvet in Sweden will act as a service hub for these vessels, adding to the close connections of Damen with Sweden and it’s defence organisation.
On the top image from left to right: Lars Tossman (CEO SAAB Kockums), Stina Billinger (Swedish State Secretary for Business, Industry and Innovation), Crown Princess Victoria and Hein van Ameijden (managing director Damen Naval)
Photo credit @Jerry Lampen