Belgian minehunter Oostende

Oostende (M940) is the first ship in the City-class mine countermeasures vessels. She is being constructed in France for the Belgian Navy.

Oostende a few days after the beginning of her sea trials
History
Belgium
Name	Oostende
Namesake	City of Oostende
Builder	Piriou, Concarneau, France
Laid down	30 November 2021[1][2]
Launched	29 March 2023[3]
Identification	Pennant number: M940
Status	Under construction
General characteristics
Class & type	City-class mine countermeasures vessel
Displacement	2,800 t (2,800 long tons) full load
Length	82.30 m (270 ft 0 in)
Beam	17 m (55 ft 9 in)
Draught	3.80 m (12 ft 6 in)
Speed	15.3 knots (28.3 km/h; 17.6 mph)
Complement	33–63
Armament	Bofors 40 Mk4 2 × 12.7 mm FN Herstal Sea deFNder 7.62 mm MAG Water cannon LRAD

History

Oostende (Ostend) is the result of a joint procurement programme for the replacements of the Tripartite- / Alkmaar-class minehunters for the Belgian- and Dutch navies.^[4]

She will be first in class followed by HNLMS Vlissingen which will be the first for the Royal Netherlands Navy. She was laid down at Piriou, Concarneau, France on 30 November 2021.^[1][2] On 19 December 2022, she got out of the construction hangar and work on masts, paintings and furniture began. She is planned to be commissioned in December 2024.^[5]

The technical launch took place in late February 2023, with the official launch a month later on 29 March.^[3][6] Sea Trials started on 17 July 2024 in Concarneau.^[7]