Multraship, Rijkswaterstaat, and the Netherlands Coastguard join forces for safety in the North Sea

Multraship, on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat, handed over the new patrol vessel ENFORCER to the Netherlands Coastguard . The 53-metre-long vessel will be deployed in the years ahead to safeguard the continuity of coastguard activities in the North Sea, providing additional support until the new generation of coastguard vessels goes into service.

The work of the Coastguard has expanded in recent years. In response, Rijkswaterstaat Rijksrederij ordered the charter of the ENFORCER. With this modern patrol vessel, the Coastguard will maintain its capability for surveillance work, providing assistance and contributing to safety in the North Sea.

The ENFORCER was built by Damen Shipyards in Gorinchem. It is owned by Multraship from Terneuzen, which will therefore also be responsible for the vessel’s crew and maintenance. The Netherlands Coastguard will have operational command. To carry out the duties in the North Sea, boarding officers from law enforcement agencies such as the police, customs and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee board the vessel.

Equipment

The ENFORCER has two high-speed boats (RHIBs) for inspections and enforcement at sea. In addition, the vessel also has a large crane, a towing system, a FiFi 1 fire-fighting system and salvage pumps.

Clean and sustainable

The vessel complies with the Tier-3 emissions standard and runs on HVO100. It therefore fits in with Multraship’s sustainability ambitions and the joint commitment by Rijkswaterstaat and the Netherlands Coastguard to cleaner and more sustainable navigation in the North Sea.

Multraship is already supplying the Rijksrederij with three Emergency Response and Towing Vessels (ERTVs). Those vessels are used for emergency towage operations and general Coastguard duties. The addition of the ENFORCER builds on this successful alliance between government and maritime partners.