The Belgian Navy has officially received its first City-class mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV), the Oostende (M940), during a handover ceremony at the Zeebrugge Naval Base in Bruges. The delivery represents a significant step in Belgium’s ongoing fleet modernization and enhances its ability to safeguard maritime routes against underwater threats.
The new ship is part of the Belgian-Dutch Replacement Mine Countermeasure (rMCM) program, launched in 2019, which will deliver 12 advanced minehunting vessels—six each for Belgium and the Netherlands—through the 2030s. The program is being led by Belgium Naval & Robotics, a joint venture between France’s Naval Group and Exail, combining shipbuilding and autonomous systems expertise.
Designed around a “stand-off” mine warfare concept, the City-class vessel allows the detection and destruction of naval mines without entering hazardous areas. The system employs a fleet of surface, underwater, and aerial drones capable of locating and neutralizing explosives remotely, minimizing risks to personnel and extending operational endurance at sea.
Measuring 82 meters (269 feet) in length, the Oostende can accommodate over 60 crew members and is powered by three diesel generators and twin electric motors, enabling speeds up to 15 knots (28 kilometers per hour) and a range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 kilometers). In addition to its multi-domain drones, the vessel integrates cranes, inflatable boats, acoustic modules, and destruction systems for mine disposal. For defense, it is armed with naval guns, heavy machine guns, water cannons, and long-range acoustic systems, reinforcing Belgium’s maritime security capabilities.
