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Belgium and Netherlands Transfer First Minehunters to Ukraine’s Navy
Ukraine’s naval forces received two Tripartite-class minehunters from Belgium and the Netherlands—BNS Narcis and Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen, renamed Mariupol and Melitopol respectively—with a third vessel, Zr.Ms. Makkum (to be Henichesk), due by year-end, as was reported by official website of the Dutch Ministry of Defense on June 26.
“The mine-hunters are entering a new chapter, under a new flag, with a new mission,” said Dutch defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans, reflecting on the ships’ transfer.
Ukraine’s navy formally took possession of the two ships during a ceremony at the Belgian naval base in Zeebrugge, attended by representatives of all three nations.
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BNS Narcis, a Tripartite-class minehunter provided by Belgium, and the Dutch Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen will operate under the flags of Ukraine’s Naval Forces, after crews received intensive training from Belgian and Dutch trainers, technicians and support teams.
Both vessels belong to the Tripartite (Alkmaar) class, displacing about 605 tons with a length of 51 meters. They are capable of speeds up to 15 knots and have an endurance of roughly 3,000 nautical miles at 12 knots. Each carries a crew of 55 and is outfitted with a bow-mounted sonar, two autonomous underwater vehicles for mine detection and neutralization, a 20 mm automatic cannon, and light machine guns.
Earlier, it was reported that Belgium and Türkiye will join the Drone Coalition supporting Ukraine’s air defense. The coalition, co-led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, pools member states’ resources for drone procurement.
