Ukraine Receives Mariupol and Melitopol Minesweepers From Belgium and Netherlands, Henichesk to Follow

Belgium and the Netherlands have officially handed over two Alkmaar (Tripartite) minesweepers to the Ukrainian Navy, with the third one to follow.

This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands.

These are the former Belgian Narcis and the Dutch Vlaardingen, which have already officially raised the flag of the Ukrainian Navy.

In addition to the Vlaardingen, the Netherlands will hand over to Ukraine a similar Makkum ship at the end of the year, which will be named Henichesk.

The transfer ceremony took place at the naval base in Zeebrugge, Belgium, but the announcement was delayed for security reasons.

“The minesweepers are entering a new chapter, under a new flag, with a new mission,” said Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.

Vlaardingen will reportedly bear the name Melitopol, while Narcis’s new name will be Mariupol.

The new ships inherited the names of their predecessors, the Project 1258 Henichesk minesweeper and the Project 1265 Mariupol and Melitopol base minesweepers.

Brekelmans also outlined the symbolism of the transfer of the ships: “A future in which the Black Sea is open and free, and Ukrainian cities are no longer occupied.”

Alkmaar class minesweepers (Tripartite)

The Alkmaar (Tripartite) is a class of minesweepers developed jointly in the interests of Belgium, France and the Netherlands based on French Circé ships. A total of 35 ships were built for the three navies in the 1980s and 1990s.

The three countries built their own hulls, but each was responsible for certain components of the ships: France provided the mine countermeasures and electronic systems, the Netherlands took care of the propulsion systems, and Belgium supplied the power generation systems.

In the Royal Netherlands Navy, Alkmaar-class ships initially had a similar design to the Belgian and French versions, with a standard displacement of 520 tons, but later it increased to 571 tons and then to 630 tons.

The planned 20-mm cannons for the Dutch minesweepers were dismantled, leaving only three 12.7-mm machine guns.

The crew of the vessel consists of 4 officers, 15 non-commissioned officers and 17 enlisted men.

Since 2003, the minesweepers have been modernized with advanced electronics, including the Atlas Elektronik INCMS combat data system.

They also installed a Thales 2022 Mk III sonar and Atlas Seafox and Double Eagle Mk III Mod 1 ROV mine detection and clearance systems.

These ships can not only detect and defuse mines, but also serve as logistics vessels for the transportation of cargo and ammunition.