Ukrainian crew completes training on the Dutch Zr.Ms. Makkum minesweeper

4 December, 2024 Minesweeper Zr.Ms. Makkum of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Photo: Netherlands Ministry of Defense

The Ukrainian Navy crew has completed training on the Dutch minesweeper Zr.Ms. Makkum. The Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands reported on this.

In total, 35 Ukrainian sailors involved in the exercises got acquainted with the ship and received appropriate training for future service on this minesweeper. According to the Ministry of Defense, the training of the future crew lasted two months and has now been successfully completed.

Ukrainian crew during formation on the minesweeper Zr. Ms.

Makkum. Photo credits: Olaf Kraak

As part of the assistance to Ukraine, the Netherlands will also transfer the Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen minesweeper in addition to Zr.Ms.

Makkum as part of the strengthening of the Ukrainian Navy. NATO instructors and interpreters were involved in providing quality training and helping the Ukrainian crew successfully master the new equipment. In addition to the ship's crew, technical personnel were trained at the Belgian Naval Academy.

The training of Ukrainians was intensive, as a double crew manned the ship during this period, and the basic level of sailors' training required adjustments to the original program.

Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen minesweeper. Photo credits: Netherlands Ministry of Defense

Minesweepers Zr.Ms.

Makkum and Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen will be delivered to Ukraine in 2025 and will complement Belgian and British ships as part of the Ukrainian Navy's mine countermeasures capabilities. Both minesweepers are Alkmaar-type ships with a maximum displacement of 588 tons.

Their hulls are made of fiberglass-reinforced polyester, which allows the ship to avoid triggering underwater magnetic mines. The total crew of the ship is 44 people. The armament consists of a 20mm gun and three 12.7mm machine guns used to destroy surface mines and self-defense.

Militarnyi previously reported that in March 2024, the Belgian government agreed to transfer the third Alkmaar-class minesweeper to the Ukrainian Navy.