Ukraine has received the previously announced Alkmaar-class mine countermeasure vessel from the Netherlands.
This transfer, announced in April this year, is part of the Maritime Capabilities Coalition, according to the Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
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The vessel, now named Henichesk, was delivered during an official ceremony attended by senior naval officers from several European nations.
During the transfer event, Ukrainian Navy Commander Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, raised the Ukrainian naval ensign on board the vessel.
Vice Admiral Neizhpapa said: “I thank the Dutch crew for their service, for taking care of the ship, and for maintaining it in excellent condition.
“I am confident that, together with its Ukrainian crew, the vessel will continue to fulfil its missions effectively and contribute to security in the Black Sea and, if necessary, beyond.”
With the arrival of Henichesk, the Ukrainian Navy’s fleet of mine countermeasure vessels now stands at five.
Earlier, Ukraine received the Sandown-class vessels Cherkasy and Chernihiv from the UK, as well as the Alkmaar-class ships Melitopol and Mariupol from Belgium and the Netherlands.
Despite the delivery, current restrictions under the Montreux Convention, enforced by Turkey since 2022, will prevent the vessel from entering the Black Sea until the ongoing conflict comes to an end.
The convention limits the passage of naval military ships through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits for countries involved in hostilities.
Alkmaar-class mine countermeasure ships were built at the Van der Giessen-de Noord shipyard in Alblasserdam, the Netherlands, for the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The vessels are 51.5 metres (m) long, 8.9m wide, and have a draught of 3.8m. They displace over 543 tonnes and can carry between 28 and 38 crew members, with inertial navigation systems installed.
For mine-hunting purposes, the vessels are equipped with Atlas Elektronik’s integrated mine countermeasure system, designed for detecting and clearing mines.
The ships also feature Thales Underwater Systems’ TSM 2022 MkIII sonar, supporting the simultaneous detection and identification of underwater objects, even in challenging conditions.
Additionally, a self-propelled variable depth sonar can be used alongside the hull-mounted sonar when needed.
