The former minesweeper ex-Hr.Ms. Sittard (M830) is in need of help. She is one of the last remaining Ton class minesweepers still in operational condition. However, the outer hull, built of wood, is in need of a serious upgrade and her owners are fundraising to help pay for the necessary work.
Sittard was built in 1956 and has been used to clear the Dutch coastal waters of mines. She was in active service in the Royal Dutch Navy until 1996, after which she was donated to the Harlingen Seacadets in 1997. She has been serving as a training ship in Harlingen ever since.
Apart from her service in the Navy and being a home to the Seacadets, she made a major appearance in Christopher Nolans’ motion picture Dunkirk, which even received three Academy Awards.
But now major parts of the wooden hull are in need of replacement. The repairs can be done with teak or oak wood. Funds are needed for these repairs, which will keep the history and legacy of this vessel alive for the next generation.
The Harlingen Seacadets is a maritime club enabling young people to come into contact with the maritime world in a controlled environment. As well as learning about nautical and technical matters on board, they also learn to be shipmates, and gain greater self-confidence.
