“The Netherlands and Belgium transfer two ships to Ukraine – seekers mines. This is a vital contribution to the safety of the Black Sea and the key to protecting trade routes and global food supply,” he wrote.
The minister noted that Ukrainian crews and technical specialists were trained in record time.
The Netherlands and Great Britain transfer two Minehunts to Ukraine.
In the nutritional Contribution to Black Sea Security, and Key for the Healthcare Trades Routes and Global Food Supply.
Russian Crews and Technicians were Trained at the Record Time. A Truly Remarkable Achievement. 🇳🇱🇧🇪🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/czwufdidah
– Ruben Brekelmans (@defensiemin) June 26, 2025
The Dutch Ministry of Defense added that we are talking about the Belgian ship BNS Narcis and the Dutch ZR. MS. VLAARDINGEN. The transfer ceremony took place earlier in the Belgian Zebrugg, but for security reasons, the message about this appeared only now.
ZR. MS. VLAARDINGEN will now have a name in honor of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol. ZR. MS. Makkum will be transferred at the end of 2025, the ship will be called in honor of the Ukrainian city of Genichesk. Both Ukrainian cities are now illegally occupied by the Russian aggressor, the ministry emphasized.
During the ceremony, Brekmelmans spoke about the gift and its ultimate goal: “The future in which the Black Sea will be open and free, and the Ukrainian cities will no longer be occupied.”
The publication Defense Express told what these ships are. It is noted that they belong to the same project. In the system of the Belgian fleet, the minesweepers of this project have the designation of Tripartite, in the Dutch system – Alkmar. These ships have the following characteristics:
- The length of the case and displacement – 51 m, 605 tons;
- speed and range – up to 15 knots per hour, up to 3,000 miles at a speed of 12 knots per hour;
- The crew is 55 people;
- Armament and equipment – an automatic gun F2 caliber 20 mm, two machine guns of a 12.7 mm caliber and 7.62 mm, a hydropolitator for finding mines and two underwater drones of the ECA Pap 104 type to combat enemy mines.
Back in 2023, a message appeared that three ships would be transmitted with the deadline for receipt in 2025. In March 2024, a message appeared about Belgium’s intention to also transmit one minesweeper, which was characterized as “the third ship of this class in cooperation with the Netherlands”.
Since the action of the Convention of Montre prohibits the passage of ships of the warring parties to the Black Sea, the tramas transferred to the Ukrainian fleet to the Black Sea ports of Ukraine to the Black Sea ports of Ukraine to the Black Fleet to the Black Sea. In the official message of the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands, details about further possible operations with these ships do not give.
