Bulgaria has approved the acquisition of seven minehunter vessels from Belgium and the Netherlands as part of ongoing efforts to enhance mine countermeasures and ensure the safety of navigation routes in the Black Sea.
Sea-news.az reports that during NATO’s summit in July, Bulgaria—alongside Romania and Türkiye—agreed to expand the operational scope of the joint naval task group tasked with neutralizing drifting mines in the Black Sea. Missions focused on protecting critical infrastructure have also been integrated into the group’s mandate.
The three Black Sea-fanning NATO member states established a dedicated demining operational group in 2024 to combat the growing hazard posed by floating mines.
Under the sales contract with the Netherlands approved by the country’s parliament on Wednesday, Bulgaria will procure three specialized vessels equipped for searching and destroying mines and mine-like objects. A separate trilateral transfer agreement between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria accounts for another four ships.
Prior to handing over ownership, the Netherlands has committed to restoring the technical capabilities and improving the operational readiness of its three allocated ships. Meanwhile, Bulgaria will shoulder the repair and overhaul expenses required to bring all seven vessels up to full NATO combat-readiness standards.
