On March 14, the Dutch shipbuilding group Damen Shipyards announced on social media that it has signed a contract with the Ministerie van Defensie (Dutch Ministry of Defence) to build three Stan Patrol 5009 cutters for the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard.
These vessels will replace the current generation- Jaguar, Panter, and Poema – a Damen Stan Patrol 4100 design which have served reliably for over 25 years but are reaching the end of their operational life.
The new cutters are larger than their predecessors, designed to handle the challenging sea conditions of the Caribbean, providing better crew comfort, thereby enhancing extended mission capabilities. They’ll beequipped with modern sensors, including an advanced surveillance radar and electro optical sensor, enabling effective surveillance day and night, in all weather conditions.
Alongside the cutters, Damen Shipyards will also deliver four fast DI 1102 interceptor boats one on each vessel, including an additional unit for training and maintenance rotation. These boats are designed to intercept fast smuggling vessels and support law enforcement operations across the region.
Expected to be operational by early 2029, these vessels will strengthen the Coast Guard’s ability to carry out maritime surveillance, border control, search and rescue, and anti-smuggling operations, securing our seas and supporting safety and security across the Caribbean.
In the defense shipbuilding market, Damen Shipyards recently signed a design contract for eight Heavy Landing Craft (LCH) with Austal Defence Australia, a subsidiary of the Australian defense shipbuilding group Austal.