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Ukraine has received a mine countermeasures ship of the Alkmaar class from the Netherlands. This marks another step toward a future operation to clear mines from the Black Sea and coastal areas.
Spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, Captain 2nd Rank Dmytro Pletenchuk, said this during a broadcast on Suspilne.News.
According to him, the received vessel is a fully capable mine countermeasures ship. It can both detect threats on its own and conduct operations at various depths. Such ships have previously operated in the Atlantic Ocean, so this class is more than sufficient for Ukrainian waters.
“It provides us with the capability to clear our waters of mines. There is mine contamination, not to mention that we still face the consequences of even the First and Second World Wars in the Black Sea. Therefore, there is certainly more than enough work to do — the need for such ships is enormous”, — the Navy spokesperson emphasized.
Even now, mine clearance operations are carried out regularly, although on a smaller scale and not to the full extent required. However, even these efforts help to protect the grain corridor.
“If the security situation changes and we have the opportunity to bring these ships into the Black Sea, we will finally be able to conduct a full-scale mine clearance operation. It is a multi-stage process. The first stage lasts up to eight months — this is urgent mine clearance, covering anchorages and fairways. Overall, the operation will take from three to five years”, — Dmytro Pletenchuk said.
