Kership Launches Latest Belgian Navy Vessel
In a significant development for maritime defense, Kership, a French shipbuilding company, has launched the third City-class mine countermeasures (MCM) vessel for the Belgian Navy from its facilities in Lorient. This event marks a pivotal step in a bilateral initiative between Belgium and the Netherlands aimed at enhancing their anti-mine capabilities through a shared fleet, which is designed to promote interoperability between their naval forces.
The vessel, named BNS Brugge (M942), is currently undergoing final preparations in Concarneau, with its commissioning targeted for the year 2026. Following its delivery, Kership, alongside its parent companies Naval Group and Piriou, has plans to construct three additional MCM vessels for Belgium, extending through the 2030s. The broader project has already seen six platforms ordered in Amsterdam, with the first ship expected to be delivered by the end of this year.
