Hnlms-Luymes

The HNLMS 'Luymes', accompanied by an NH90 helicopter, escorted the disabled Russian submarine 'Novorossiysk- B 261' across the North Sea enroute to Russia. The Russian tug 'Yakov Grebelskiy' of the Goryn class was also monitored. The submarine was spotted off the coast of Gibraltar on Sep 28, 2025, and the US Navy confirmed its presence. The vessel has not submerged since then. It was suspected that the vessel had a fuel tank leak. The Russian submarine was sailing off the Dutch coast on Oct 9 and escorted by the Royal Netherlands Navy. The hydrographic survey vessel tracked the 74-meter submarine and the 63-meter tug until they left the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone. It has not been disclosed whether the Russian tugboat was only present as a support vessel or was towing the submarine. The 'Novorossiysk', which belongs to the 4th Separate submarine Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet, had run into serious technical problems on Sep 26, while on a mission off Gibraltar, in the Mediterranean. It was allegedly at risk of exploding and later surfaced. Due to a technical failure, fuel was leaking into the bilge. The shortage forced the crew into the precarious decision of pumping the leaking fuel directly into the sea as the only way to prevent an explosion.The boat had neither the spare parts nor the qualified specialists onboard to fix the malfunction. A French Navy frigate had conductied surveillance of the Russian submarine while it off the coast of Brittany on Oct 9. The Russsian Black Sea fleet claimed that the 'Novorossiysk' was simply on a planned voyage and sailing on the surface because that would be he rule in the busy Channel. The NATO claimed this was completely untrue. The 'Novorossiysk was limping to its home base and ikely diesel fuel had leaked into the lower compartments after a critical system failure. Because the technicians and spare parts for repairs were lacking, the submarine surfaced. This exposed the 'Novorossiysk', but allowed the crew to pump out the dangerous, explosive fuel and dump it at sea. The submarine had drifted for some time, being partially disabled, near Gibraltar, with a Russian tanker potentially needed to refuel it in an emergency. The siubmarine then sailed north, followed en route by navies including the Spanish, American, French, Belgian, British, and, in recent days, the Dutch navy. On Oct 13 it entered the Skagerrak, afte rthe German surveillance ship 'Oste' monitoreed the submarine west of Heligoland. With the withdrawal of the 'Novorossiysk', Russia no longer has a single submarine in the Mediterranean. At the end of 2024, Russia still had an entire naval fleet there. Due to poor maintenance, logistical overload, and a susceptibility to accidents, this has quickly deteriorated, Reports with photos: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2025/10/11/marineschip-en-een-helikopter-hielden-kapotte-russische-onderzeeboot-in-de-gaten/ https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2025/10/14/navo-russische-onderzeeboot-heeft-kritiek-systeemdefect/ https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/nato-tracks-surfaced-russian-submarine-off-france/ https://www.gbc.gi/news/russian-submarine-reportedly-near-the-strait-at-risk-of-explosion https://x.com/NATO_MARCOM/status/1976325370908426672

In the evening of Feb 7, 2013, the KRRM-lifeboat "Arie Visser" was called for a medevac of tow crew members of the "Hr. Ms. Luymes". The "Arie Visser" reached the survey ship about seven miles off Terschelling. One man of the "Arie Visser" was transferred onto the naval vessel. Both crewmembers were then taken aboard the "Arie Visser" smoothly and taken to Terschelling where they were transferred to a waiting ambulance.

The "Hr. Ms. Luymes" assisted the damaged Dutch f/v "Urk 33" after the collision with the "Birka Transpoter" on Feb 14, 2011. Dutch report: http://www.defensie.nl/marine/actueel/nieuws/2011/02/14/46178691/Marineschip_assisteert_na_aanvaring

The "Hr. Ms. Luymes" assisted the damaged Dutch f/v "Urk 33" after the collision with the "Birka Transpoter" on Feb 14, 2011. Dutch report: http://www.defensie.nl/marine/actueel/nieuws/2011/02/14/46178691/Marineschip_assisteert_na_aanvaring

The "Hr. Ms. Luymes" assisted the damaged Dutch f/v "Urk 33" after the collision with the "Birka Transpoter" on Feb 14, 2011. Dutch report: http://www.defensie.nl/marine/actueel/nieuws/2011/02/14/46178691/Marineschip_assisteert_na_aanvaring