GALAȚI, Romania — April 8, 2026 : Damen Shipyards Group has launched the NRP D. João II, a Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV 10720), for the Portuguese Navy. The vessel entered the water at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania on April 7, 2026
The launch ceremony was attended by senior naval officials and diplomats, including Vice Admiral Pires representing the Portuguese Navy, Rear Admiral Neculae of the Romanian Naval Forces, Paulo Alves Cunha, Ambassador of Portugal to Romania, and Willemijn van Haaften, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Romania.
Vessel Design and Technical Characteristics
The NRP D. João II is based on a concept developed by the Portuguese Navy under former Chief of Staff Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo. It is designed as a multi-functional naval platform with a strong emphasis on unmanned, multi-domain operations and a high degree of system autonomy. The vessel is engineered for unrestricted deployment in tropical and moderate environments.
The ship measures 107.6 meters in length, with a beam of 20 meters and a displacement of approximately 7,000 tonnes. It is powered by two Tier III-compliant diesel engines and azimuth thrusters, enabling a maximum speed of about 15 to 15.5 knots.
Due to advanced automation, the vessel operates with a core crew of 48 personnel. It also provides accommodation for 42 scientists and can support up to 100 personnel during standard operations. In emergency scenarios, total capacity can be expanded to approximately 300 individuals.
Unmanned Systems and Mission Flexibility
The vessel’s design incorporates extensive capabilities for operating unmanned systems across air, surface, and subsurface domains. It features a 94-by-11-meter flight deck, a drone launch catapult, and hangar facilities for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and heavy helicopters.
A stern ramp enables the deployment and recovery of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The ship is also equipped with the ROV Luso, a remotely operated underwater vehicle capable of reaching depths of up to 6,000 meters.
For modular mission support, the vessel includes space for up to 18 standard 20-foot containers, which can be configured as laboratories, hyperbaric chambers, hospital units, or specialized operational modules. Additionally, the ship is equipped with a 30-tonne crane and can carry up to 18 light military utility vehicles or 10 speedboats.
Funding and Industrial Collaboration
Damen Shipyards signed the construction contract in 2024 following a competitive tender process. The total program cost is €132 million, of which €94.5 million is funded through the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) under the NextGenerationEU program, managed by Recover Portugal (PRR). The remaining €37.5 million is financed by the Portuguese state budget.
The project involved collaboration with multiple industrial partners. Alewijnse was responsible for the vessel’s electrical systems, while Schottel supplied the propulsion equipment. The program also contributed to the development of Damen’s Multi-Purpose Support Ship (MPSS) range, covering vessels between 7,000 and 9,000 tonnes and combining military-grade systems with standardized commercial solutions to reduce costs and accelerate delivery timelines.
Operational Role and Strategic Purpose
According to its concept of operations, the NRP D. João II is designed to support a wide range of missions, including oceanographic research, environmental and meteorological monitoring, maritime surveillance, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief.
The vessel will also support national security tasks such as sovereignty patrols and the protection of critical maritime infrastructure, including undersea communication cables.
Bram Langeveld, Chief Commercial Officer of Damen Shipyards, stated that the vessel’s relatively short development timeline and multi-role design make it suitable for both national and broader European maritime operations, particularly given Portugal’s extensive coastline.
Naming and Future Service
The vessel is named after King João II of Portugal, who reigned from 1481 to 1495 and played a central role in advancing the country’s maritime exploration during the Age of Discovery.
Following completion of sea trials later in 2026, the NRP D. João II is expected to be delivered to the Portuguese Navy by the end of the year. Upon entering service, it will operate alongside other Damen-built vessels in the fleet, including the frigates NRP Bartolomeu Dias and NRP D. Francisco de Almeida.
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