Snellius-class hydrographic survey vessel
The Snellius class is a pair of Dutch hydrographic survey ships used by the Royal Netherlands Navy for oceanographic research. The two ships, Snellius and Luymes, were built by the Damen Group. The hulls were made in Galați, Romania, and fitting out was done in the Netherlands by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding.
They are named after scientists Willebrord Snellius and Johan Luymes. The ships are about 81 meters long, 13.1 meters wide, with a draft of 4 meters and a displacement of around 1,875 tonnes. They use a diesel-electric propulsion system with two Caterpillar Acert generators producing about 1,166 kW, giving a top speed of 12 knots. The crew numbers about 18, and they carry optional light armament (two 12.7 mm machine guns).
Construction began on 25 June 2002, with the keel laid at Galați. Snellius arrived in Vlissingen for fitting out in 2003 and has been in service since 2003. In 2021, Snellius completed a mid-life upgrade, including overhauls of various systems; Luymes underwent a similar update a year earlier. Both ships are planned to be replaced in a future by a common family of ships, with the new builder chosen in 2024.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 01:22 (CET).