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DAMEN presents CROSSOVER ultimate mission modular naval concept at DIMDEX 2014.


| 2014
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DIMDEX 2014 Show Daily - Damen
 
 
 
DAMEN presents CROSSOVER ultimate mission modular naval concept at DIMDEX 2014.
 
On top of traditional naval warfare tasks, today's navies face growing challenges in the field of Maritime Security and Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief (HADR). The number of tasks increases while the number of ships remains the same or even decreases. Fully developed to execute current tasks and cater for future capabilities, the Damen CROSSOVER is the ultimate mission modular naval concept. Pivotal to this innovative solution is the so-called X-Deck - a single, flexible deck to handle, store, operate and deploy mission equipment, fast RHIBs, as well as landing craft. As multiple modes of access and handling are provided, future systems, unknown at present, will be able to be fitted and operated.
     
Fully developed to execute current tasks and cater for future capabilities, the Damen CROSSOVER is the ultimate mission modular naval concept. Pivotal to this innovative solution is the so-called X-Deck - a single, flexible deck to handle, store, operate and deploy mission equipment, fast RHIBs, as well as landing craft. As multiple modes of access and handling are provided, future systems, unknown at present, will be able to be fitted and operated.
New concept of DAMEN modular naval concept.
     
”The brand-new Crossover- or 'XO' design is something of a hybrid between a larger Sigma-class frigate, a Holland Class OPV and a small ENFORCER® LPD”, says René Hoogenboom, Product Manager of Naval Auxiliaries & Amphibious Support Ships, at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. He explains: "The market wants multi-functionality. Vessels need to be adequately armed for missions requiring higher levels of force, but they also need to be equipped for humanitarian and maritime security/safety missions. The XO can be equipped with the armament of a frigate, but also has facilities for an on-board mobile hospital. If required, it can carry landing craft and high-speed inflatable boats, both using the XO’s 'back door'. "The Crossover can also be dispatched on lone missions, carrying Special Forces to execute raids on terrorist' strongholds. Pivotal in the design is the central multi-functional area, the X-deck, at the stern of the ship. It accommodates launching high-speed inflatable boats and deploying landing craft, but also facilitates Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) and Crane loading of cargo and vehicles through the access doors.

Given its versatility, the XO is like a Swiss Army knife. Being a unique vessel of its kind, finding comparison in the market is hard. Some designs launched earlier had their flaws, for example either being far too large or lacking essential deployment- and access facilities, such as a slipway, side hatches and davits. These features represent the very core elements where the Crossover development started from. Hoogenboom: "When designing the various mission modules and selecting their possible -elements, such as the unmanned aeroplanes and mine-countermeasure equipment, we closely examined the systems already tested and available on the market." Consequently, despite its futuristic appearance, the XO should be free of any teething troubles.

     
Fully developed to execute current tasks and cater for future capabilities, the Damen CROSSOVER is the ultimate mission modular naval concept. Pivotal to this innovative solution is the so-called X-Deck - a single, flexible deck to handle, store, operate and deploy mission equipment, fast RHIBs, as well as landing craft. As multiple modes of access and handling are provided, future systems, unknown at present, will be able to be fitted and operated.
Scale model of DAMEN modular naval concept at DIMDEX 2014, naval defense exhibition in Doha, Qatar.
     

"In the case of these flexible vessels, we were particularly keen to develop a class that is “multi-functional” without becoming “multi-useless." This meant carefully balancing all the design- and equipment options versus the impact on the total ship concept performance.” Basically, the series provides a platform where space, weight, handling and access provisions can be scaled to the customers’ needs and thereby gaining the required flexibility that is needed to “future proof” their ships.

Thanks to a high level of automation, only a small crew is required, thus limiting the life-cycle costs.
The vessels in the XO 'family' are relatively small: the XO115 numbers 115 metres in length and displaces 4500 tonnes. The largest XO137 measures 137 metres in length and weighs 5600 tonnes. The Crossover Series is scheduled for release in 2014.

     
 
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