The parties behind the Danish defence agreement have agreed on a construction strategy for five new Arctic vessels. The production will be distributed across the country with a state assembly facility in Frederikshavn (northern Denmark) as the hub.
– Denmark is a major maritime nation with proud traditions in shipping and shipbuilding. With the decision on a construction strategy, where we engage several Danish production facilities and an assembly facility in Frederikshavn, we ensure that Denmark's position in shipbuilding is strengthened, says Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
According to a press release from the Danish Ministry of Defence, the parties to the defence agreement have decided on a distributed construction strategy. This means that several production sites around Denmark will be utilised for manufacturing, while a joint facility in Frederikshavn will be responsible for the final assembly of the vessels.
Lund Poulsen adds that the strategy also strengthens the country's supply readiness in the long term. The decision means that the state will own the facility in Frederikshavn. This facility will be dimensioned to handle the production of ships larger than the current Arctic vessels in the future.
– For the Fleet Programme in the Danish Defence Materiel and Procurement Agency (FMI), the decision marks a milestone and sets the framework for further work on implementing the decisions on the acquisition of ships for the navy, says Lieutenant General Per Pugholm Olsen, Director of FMI.
The strategic choice is based on an analysis conducted by Deloitte. According to the press release, the model is considered the most cost-effective as it prioritises domestic production and provides access to a broader industrial base and larger workforce.
The next step in the process is to establish the technical specifications for the vessels, after which contract negotiations can begin. The project is part of the agreed fleet plan under the defence agreement for 2024–2033.