KNUD RASMUSSEN commissioned:

First new Arctic
Offshore Patrol Vessel Commissioned

Monday, February 18 at 1515 hours, the first of the new arctic patrol vessels of the KNUD RASMUSSEN Class was commissioned into the Royal Danish Navy.

The arctic offshore patrol vessel KNUD RASMUSSEN at sea with its Search and Rescue Vessel SAR2 alongside.
(Photo: Royal Danish Navy)

Click here to see the photos in a higher resolution...

By Johnny E. Balsved

At last the day arrived, after several months delay, when the Royal Danish Navy could receive the first of its new arctic offshore patrol vessels of the KNUD RASMUSSEN Class from Karstensens Shipyard in Skagen.

At the naming ceremony in September 2007 it was expected that the delivery would be before the end of the year, but that turned out not to be the case.

Sea trials

Before final delivery from yard of KNUD RASMUSSEN the mandatory sea trials were held, This is when all systems are tested and the ship finally accepted by the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization.

The seatrials lasted 4 long days (and nights), and had a quite dramatic first day, when the reaction from the engine control was not as rapid as expected by the yard captain, straight ahead was the quayside which rapidly came closer ..........

"Watch out for collision" said the ships coming navigation officer on the tanoy, and shortly afterwards a loud BANG, as the icebreaker stem plowed into wood and concrete.

Well moored to the quay, the damage was inspected. It was found that the icebreaker stem had been tested and found sufficient, some gray paint was what was needed.

Commissioning in Frederikshavn

At the end of successful sea trials KNUD RASMUSSEN was February 15th handed over to the crew, who immediately started to move in and load equipment and stores on board.

When everything later the same day was on board, the course was set for Naval Station Frederikshavn, where the commissioning was set. On February 18, 2008 at 1515 hours the HDMS KNUD RASMUSSEN was officially commissioned into the Royal Danish Navy. Witnessed by representatives for Naval Operational Command, staff of 1st squadron, Naval Operational Logistics Center Naval Station Frederikshavn and Karstensens Shipyard.

Getting ready for commissioning. (Photo: Royal Danish Navy)

The official commissioning was followed by some light refreshments and guided tours of the ship.

Shortly after the commissioning it was time to leave Frederikshavn for Naval Station Korsør for installation of communications equipment, before departure on March 17th for climatic test in Greenland waters.

HDMS KNUD RASMUSSEN will return from this climatic test in May for some final installations of electronics, after which it in August 2008 will go on station in Greenland, and stay there for the next five years.

AGDLEK to be decommissioned

The commissioning of the first of the KNUD RASMUSSEN Class signals the decommissioning of the first of the 3 arctic patrol cutters of the AGDLEK Class.

It is expected that HDMS AGDLEK will be placed on the sales list for auction at the end of April, when it officially will be stricken from naval lists.

The new offshore patrol vessels are much larger than their predecessors, seen here at the shipyard in Skagen, where AGDLEK is moored alongside KNUD RASMUSSEN.
(Photo: Lieutenant Commander Per Skov Madsen, RDN)

Click here to see the photos in a higher resolution...

Translated by Lars-Henrik Arvedsen (March 30, 2008)

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4KNUD RASMUSSEN commissioned - 02/20/2008

4Second OPV in Skagen - 10/09/2007

4New Arctic Patrol Vessels - 11/20/2006

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This page was first published: February 20, 2008 (March 30, 2008)

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