Potential sabotage on brand new Belgian minehunter; Netherlands bought same ship
A sea trial with a new Belgian navy ship did not go as planned this week. The minehunter suddenly started smoking. Belgium suspects sabotage may be involved. The Netherlands has ordered the exact same ships. The first will be delivered later this month, RTL Nieuws reports.
The Belgian Defense Minister, Theo Francken, informed the Belgian parliament about the incident on Wednesday. The catalytic converter on the exhaust of the M940 Oostende, as the brand new ship is called, overheated during a sea trial at open sea. “There was no fire, but limited, non-toxic smoke development,” the Minister said. No one got hurt. The fire department responded to cool the overheating exhaust.
Francken called the incident “remarkable” and said that he does not rule out sabotage. “We’ve seen what’s happening in Germany,” he said, referring to two people being arrested in Germany this week on suspicion of sabotaging naval vessels last year.
A spokesperson for the German Public Prosecutor’s Office told RTL that the suspects had switched off the power supply to a German naval frigate while on duty in the port of Hamburg, creating a risk of overheating and fire.
Belgium and the Netherlands ordered 12 minehunters, naval vessels that can detect mines and protect submarine cables, from a French company a few months ago. Each country will receive six. The Netherlands’ first ship, the Vlissingen, will be delivered later this month.
The Dutch Ministry of Defense told RTL Nieuws that it is in contact with Belgium about the potential sabotage. The Ministry does not expect the incident to delay the delivery of the Vlissingen.
