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LOCAL Friday 18 September 2020

Vessel HNLMS Pelican returns refurbished back to the West

SAVANETA — Zr. Ms. Pelican has just left for
the Caribbean. The support vessel has been in
the Netherlands for major maintenance and a
midlife update since the end of last year.

The renovation work was badly needed. It was
only the first time that the vessel had under-
gone thorough maintenance since it was com-
missioned in 2006. The Pelikaan has been op-
erating in the Caribbean Sea for 13 years. The
ship carries out support matters and provides
emergency aid there.
With the update, the ship has to move forward
for years. “It looks sleek. I am very satisfied with
where we are now”, said Lieutenant Com-
mander, David Boom, before leaving.

New tap
One of the spearheads in maintenance was
the installation of a new crane. This provides
a better overview of the FRISCs when they are leave for the Caribbean in August, but events Boom. “Later we will encounter some depres-
launched. These motor boats are used, for ex- like the corona crisis and the weather caused sions and possibly even hurricanes. When we
ample, in the fight against drug transports. “We some delay. Even now not everything is ready, get to the Azores, we know if we can continue
can now also train a lot better,” says Boom. Fur- but according to Boom that will be all right. sailing. We have good systems that keep an
thermore, the platform management system, “There are still some things to finish, such as eye on everything.” The Pelican must last at
the decks, the paint system and the accommo- drawings. Those and spare parts are yet to least 11 more years.
dation received a major overhaul. Despite all come. But we can function well for the time be- The replacement for the ship will be built in
the patching, Boom still recognized his ship, he ing. ” 2030, after which it should be ready a year
remarked with a laugh. "Sure! The hull and all later. "11 years with the Pelikaan will work out,"
the big things are still the same. ” Tailwind said Boom. “In principle, a ship must sail for 25
If the trip to the Caribbean goes according to to 30 years. I have no doubt that with this we
Slight delay plan, the Pelikaan will arrive there in 16 days. will succeed now that we have implemented
It was initially planned that the Pelican would “We had a tailwind for the first few days,” said these updates.”q