The Romanian Navy has just taken delivery of Capitan Constantin Dumitrescu, a refitted Royal Navy vessel that has become the second ship in its Mine Hunter programme.
The former HMS Pembroke, the mine countermeasures (MCM) ship was handed over to Romania’s Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces Vice Admiral Mihai Panait at a ceremony yesterday (Monday) at the Babcock International dockyard in Rosyth, Scotland.
Performing the ceremonial handover was the Royal Navy’s Commander of Maritime Operations Major General Rich Cantrill as members of the ship’s crew looked on, as per a Romanian Navy press statement.
Her 40-strong crew have been undergoing training in Britain ahead of sailing the ship back to her new home port of Constanta before the end of the year.
The 52.5-metre Sandown-class MCM vessel is the second of two ships delivered via a government-to-government deal signed between Romania and the U.K. back in September 2023 and worth an estimated €150 million (£130 million).
The first warship, the former HMS Blyth, had been permanently stationed in the Gulf. She was handed over the same month and was renamed Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu upon her transferral to the Romanian Navy.
At the time, then-Minister for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge had commented: “Given the current geo-political climate, the U.K.’s relationship with its NATO allies is more important than ever.
“This agreement with Romania is the latest strategic relationship we have strengthened, providing their navy with a new capability and, crucially, making a real contribution to security in the Black Sea region.”
- You can read more details on the Romanian Navy website