Bulgarian ex-Dutch minehunters to be repaired in 2021
Two of the three Tripartite-class minehunters in service with the Bulgarian Navy are to undergo dock repairs.
Interested parties have until 11 January to respond to an EU-wide tender worth BGN666,666 ($414,000), issued by the Bulgarian MoD. The successful bidder will have 150 days to complete the work.
The vessels to be repaired and modernised (Mesta and Struma) were formerly in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy as Maassluis and Hellevoetsluis respectively, until they were transferred to Bulgaria, where the navy inducted them on 14 October 2020.
The cost of acquiring the vessels was only BGN4.69 million but another BGN3.92 million was spent on the reactivation and delivery of the vessels to Bulgaria.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that a further BGN2.94 million will be spent on retrofitting the ships.
The Bulgarian Navy operates one other Tripartite-class vessel (Tsibar, pictured) that was acquired from Belgium in 2007.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet
South Korean industry continues to evolve unmanned surface vessels as the ROK Navy targets future force needs and addresses manpower challenges.
-
How the US Government plans to put the US Navy’s shipbuilding programmes back on track
In an attempt to reduce delays in shipbuilding efforts, the US government, lawmakers and the Navy are betting big on further investments in the national defence industry and public shipyards. Reviewing and reformulating ongoing initiatives and business practices will also be form part of the effort.
-
Canadian Coast Guard OOSV Naalak Nappaaluk enters sea testing phase
Trials in North Vancouver with the Coast Guard’s largest science-dedicated vessel will involve full-scale exercises to evaluate systems’ integrations and performance.
-
Royal Canadian Navy advances with the construction of its first River-Class destroyer
Scheduled for delivery by 2033, HMCS Fraser will be a major surface component of the Canadian maritime combat power.
-
Ireland orders Thales towed array sonar
Ireland has a large Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which extends 370km (200nm) offshore and contains 75% of the transatlantic subsea cables which carry $10 trillion in financial transactions daily. The country is investing to increase protection and surveillance of these waters.
-
South Korea advances next-gen naval concepts for future force needs
HHI and Hanwha Ocean outline highly autonomous and unmanned-enabled designs as the ROKN explores force structure for the 2030s and beyond.