A Belgium Navy frigate that took part in a NATO exercise, ‘Formidable Shield 2025,’ offshore of the west coast of Scotland has arrived at Dublin Port today, writes Jehan Ashmore.
During the exercise, BNS Louise-Marie (F931) was with EU member-state navies from the Royal Navy, the Netherlands, France, and Spain, and trans-Atlantic allies, the USA and Canada.
This is where large-scale NATO air and missile defense exercises were held off the Outer Hebrides in the North Atlantic. As for the Karel Doorman-class frigate, it undertook exercises by testing out its Harpoon, Sea Sparrow, and Goalkeeper systems.
The 123m frigate was built in the Netherlands in 1989 originally for the Royal Netherlands Navy as their HNLMS Willem van der Zaan named in honour of a 17th rear-admiral. It was commissioned in 1991 and would serve the Dutch Navy for the next 14 years until purchased by its neighbour in 2005 to serve the Marine Component of the Belgian Armed Forces.
Both countries have had long-term close naval relationships, notably with the Tripartite Class (common callers to Ireland) developed through a collaborative effort along with France in the late 1970s/early 1980s to address the increasing need for modern mine countermeasure capabilities.
Prior to the exercise, the frigate displacing 2,800 tonnes departed Harstad, northern Norway, in the Arctic Circle and is located on the Nordic nation’s largest island, Hinnøya, which is near Narvik.
As of this morning, having transited through the North Channel, BNS Louise-Marie arrived in Dublin Bay mid-afternoon. It berthed at the North Wall Quay Extension, near the Tom Clarke (East-Link) toll lift-bridge. Its arrival first involved the pilot cutter DPC Dodder, followed by towage duties by Beaufort, also operated by the state-owned port company, and the privately owned Giano of Purple Water Towing, based in the capital.
The frigate's next port of call is Plymouth in Cornwall, where the neighbouring naval base is at Devonport.
