Ukrainian Navy crews complete training on Dutch minehunters

Thirty-five Ukrainian Navy personnel have completed their training on one of two mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels that will be donated to Ukraine by the Dutch government via the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

The training was conducted on ex-HNLMS Makkum, one of two Alkmaar-class MCM vessels formerly operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy. The sailors will eventually form the crew complement of Makkum's sister vessel ex-HNLMS Vlaardingen.

The MOD said the training lasted more than two months with instructors and interpreters supplied by some of the Netherlands' NATO allies. Technical personnel who will maintain the ships are meanwhile undergoing training in Belgium.

Vlaardingen and Makkum were retired from Dutch service in March and November 2024, respectively. These two vessels will join counterparts formerly operated by the navies of Belgium and the UK to form a new MCM fleet within the Ukrainian Navy.

The Royal Netherlands Navy will welcome two replacement MCM vessels into service following the formal hand-over of the Alkmaar-class sisters in 2025.