Tournai (M941), the second Belgian vessel and third in the Belgian-Dutch Mine Countermeasures replacement program (rMCM), arrived in Zeebrugge on September 22. Thanks to its advanced unmanned systems, Tournai will contribute to the protection of maritime supply routes and infrastructure.
Belgian MoD press release
Following the delivery of the M940 Oostende in November 2025, the Tournai represents a further step in the renewal of Belgium’s mine countermeasures capability. Named after the city of Tournai, the ship’s sponsor city, it is part of a fleet of twelve new mine countermeasures vessels that Belgium and the Netherlands will gradually bring into service to replace their current capabilities.
“Tournai is much more than a new ship. It represents a new step in building an integrated mine countermeasures capability, where ships, autonomous systems, and highly skilled military personnel complement each other. As this new capability gradually takes shape, the Navy is also investing in the training and recruitment of the personnel who will be responsible for implementing and maintaining it in the future.”
Admiral Tanguy Botman, commander of the Belgian Navy
“For several decades, Belgium has enjoyed a solid international reputation in the field of mine action. With the arrival of the BNS Tournai, we are once again confirming this position and demonstrating that we continue, and want to continue, to invest in innovation and development in this field.”
A new generation of mine warfare
Mine warfare remains an essential mission today. In addition to the historical mines that still lie at the bottom of the North Sea, current geopolitical tensions demonstrate that sea mines still pose a threat to ports, trade routes, and critical infrastructure.
The Tournai belongs to a new generation of mine countermeasures vessels that allows Belgium and the Netherlands to meet these challenges. The ship was designed according to the stand-off principle : it remains at a distance from the danger zone while unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater systems are deployed to detect, identify, and neutralize mines.
The rMCM program is carried out by the Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium, resulting from cooperation between Naval Group and Exail.
Marie-Aline Widenlocher, director of the rMCM program at Naval Group, emphasizes the international nature of the project: “ We are proud to see this second mine countermeasures vessel join the Belgian Navy today. This delivery is the result of collaborative work between the
The road to Zeebrugge
The arrival of the Tournai in Zeebrugge is the culmination of several years of design, construction, integration and testing.
Since 2022, representatives from the DGMR have closely monitored the ship’s construction. At the Concarneau shipyard (France), the on-site team (OST) ensured the quality of the work, adherence to the schedule , and compliance with contractual requirements.
During the construction phase, the vessel underwent an extensive testing program. Harbour Acceptance Tests (HATs) were conducted to verify and validate the various onboard systems in the port environment. Subsequently, Sea Acceptance Tests (SATs) were performed to evaluate the vessel’s performance at sea under realistic operational conditions.
For the on-site team, participating in this project represents a unique experience:
“It’s exceptional to be able to follow the construction of a ship so closely, from the installation of the first systems on board to its first voyages at sea.”
Final step before the transfer of ownership
Although the vessel is already in Zeebrugge, it remains the property of Belgium Naval & Robotics until the scheduled transfer of ownership on September 25. The coming days will be dedicated to final touches and resupplying the vessel.
Lieutenant Commander Pierre Van Engeland, the Belgian project officer for the rMCM program, emphasizes the role of the DGMR: “ Based on the checks carried out and the results obtained, we verify that the ship meets all contractual requirements. Only when all conditions are met can we give the green light for the next stage.”
For the Tournai, this milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter. The ship will continue to be equipped, the crew will continue their training, and preparations for its operational commissioning will proceed. The Tournai will thus gradually join the renewed Belgian-Dutch mine countermeasures capability.
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