MV Geosea

MV Geosea
History
Netherlands
Name	Geosea
Owner	Geoshipping (2002–?) DOF Subsea (?–2022) N-Sea (2022–present)
Builder	Astilleros Gondan, Castropol, Spain
In service	2002–present (general) 2020–present (Royal Netherlands Navy)
Homeport	Den Helder
Identification	IMO number:  9242431 MMSI number: 245406000 Callsign: PDTR
Status	In active service
General characteristics
Type	Research vessel
Tonnage	3,253  GT
Length	84.8 m (278 ft 3 in)
Draft	5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Installed power	1,168 kW (1,566 hp)
Propulsion	4 × Cummins KTA 50 (G3) (D) M
Speed	13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) (max)
Complement	56
Notes

MV Geosea is a research vessel owned by offshore company N-Sea. She is leased to the Royal Netherlands Navy on a temporary basis and will be used as a testbed until the first of the new City-class mine countermeasures vessels enter service in 2025. ^[1] While the ship is used by the Dutch Navy she will not be commissioned into the fleet. She will keep her civilian crew, which will be augmented by Dutch or Belgian sailors for testing the new systems.

Service history

Geosea was built by Astilleros Gondan in Spain and delivered to her owners, Geoshipping, in 2002. ^[2]

DOF Subsea

Geosea was used as a charter vessel for seabed research on locations of future offshore wind farms.

N-Sea

N-Sea chartered Geosea for a period, before it used a purchase option in the contract. ^[3] The ship would be transferred in the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2022. ^{[4] [5]} The vessel will still be leased by the navy. ^[5]

Royal Netherlands Navy

Geosea with a USV90 MCM drone

On 13 February 2020 a contract signing took place in which the Royal Netherlands Navy would lease the ship for a period of at least five years until the new mine countermeasures vessels come into service for the Dutch and Belgian navies. ^[6]

In early June 2020, Geosea retrieved the portside anchor which belonged to HNLMS Rotterdam which it lost in February during storm Ciara. ^[7]

During Exercise REP(MUS) 2024 Geosea participated along with HNLMS Johan de Witt both carrying various drone systems. Geosea operated for the first time with the USV90 drone. This is a prototype for the drones that will be used by the City class. ^[8]

References

1. Jessica Bode and Jack Oosthoek (9 February 2022). "Mijnendienst test toolbox: Hoogwaardige middelen voor elke missie". Alle Hens (in Dutch). Defensie.nl.
2. "Portofolio GEOSEA". Gondan.com. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
3. "Duikbedrijf N-Sea koopt Geosea". Maritiem Den Helder (in Dutch). 7 April 2022.
4. "Sale of Geosea". DOF.com. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
5. "N-Sea strengthens offshore services with Multipurpose Support Vessel Geosea". N-Sea.com. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
6. "Marine tekent contract voor civiel testschip voor mijnenbestrijding" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
7. "Nieuwste marine-aanwinst Geosea pikt verloren anker Zr.Ms. Rotterdam op" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
8. "'Oorlogsvoering op zee gaat tegenwoordig over autonoom'" (in Dutch). AlleHens. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2025.