The Parliamentary Committee on Defense has given the “green light” at the first reading to the draft ratification of the agreement for the purchase of three mine hunters from the Netherlands. The proposal was adopted with 16 votes “in favor” and 1 “against.” The deal includes the vessels “HNLMS Zierikzee” (M862), “HNLMS Willemstad” (M864), and “HNLMS Schiedam” (M860), all of the Tripartite class.
The ratification also covers a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of Defense of Bulgaria, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The agreement provides for the acquisition of a total of seven ships – three Dutch and four Belgian – along with spare parts, additional equipment, and a training facility for crews. The ships are operational according to NATO standards and are equipped with modern systems for the detection and destruction of mines.
Under the commitments made, the Dutch side will transfer ownership after carrying out the necessary activities to restore the technical capabilities and extend the operational lifespan of each vessel. “The maximum cost of the repair and restoration activities for one ship is up to six million euros,” stated Minister of Defense Dimitar Stoyanov.
Bulgaria has committed to paying for the costs of the repairs required to meet the Alliance’s standards for operational readiness. Separately, our country is taking responsibility for the training of Ukrainian crews. Minister Stoyanov noted that one crew from Ukraine has already been trained, which was a condition for the gratuitous provision of the ships. The first Belgian mine hunter is expected to arrive in our country between September and October of this year.