The training took place aboard the HNLMS Makkum, which was decommissioned on November 25 after 40 years of service. However, the Ukrainian sailors will be the crew of the ex-HNLMS Vlaardingen, a vessel of the same class, decommissioned on March 27, 2024.
In March 2023, during a visit to Odesa, Dutch Defense Minister, Kaisa Ollongren, announced that her country would donate two Alkmaar-class MCMV to Ukraine. The Alkmaar-class is more widely known as “Tripartite-class” because it was a joint program between Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
The 35 crew members of the future Ukrainian minehunter has completed sea training, implemented by the Royal Netherlands Navy. The training lasted more than two months. NATO allies (mainly the Netherlands and Belgium) provided instructors and translators. Ukrainian technical personnel simultaneously received training at the Navy Academy in Oostende, Belgium. The training was classified as intensive, as the ship sailed with a double crew for two months. The initial level of training of the Ukrainian sailors varied and required adjustment to the training program. However, the training was successful and the crew is ready to take over the ship.
Ex-Makkum (M857) and ex-Vlaardingen (M863) were supposed to be handed over to the Ukrainian Navy after the Netherlands receive the first mine countermeasure vessel being built under the rMCM (replacement Mine Counter Measures) program, by the French consortium Belgium Naval & Robotics, formed by Naval Group and ECA Group. However, it looks like it will happen sooner.
Currently, three of the 15 Alkmaar-class MCMV built between 1979 and 1989 remain in service with the Koninklijke Marine. To date, the Hague has sold nine of them to three countries (Pakistan – two, Bulgaria – two and Latvia – five). Two more will go to Ukraine.
Alkmaar-class vessels are quite old, all more than 30 years old. They underwent modernization in 2005-2006, including the installation of Atlas Elektronik IMCMS (Integrated Mine Countermeasures System) and Thales 2022 Mk III hull mounted sonar, and integration with Atlas Seafox and Saab Double Eagle Mk III Mod 1 mine countermeasures unmanned underwater vehicles.
Ukraine will receive another Tripartite-class minehunter from Belgium. It will be ex-Narcis (M923). Before being handed over to Ukraine, all the ships will undergo overhauls and repairs to restore them to full operational status.
Ukraine already has Western-made minehunters. Kyiv bought two Sandown-class MCMVs from the UK in 2021. They are ex-HMS Blyth (M 111) and ex-HMS Ramsey (M 110). The units have been renamed Chernihiv (M 310) and Cherkasy (M 311).
It is unclear when the Ukrainian minehunters will transfer to the Black Sea. This may be difficult not only because of the war, but also by Ankara’s enforcement of the Montreux convention which bans movements of ships involved in the conflict through the Bosporus.
