Bulgarian Naval Flag Raised on Minesweeper Briz in Zeebrugge
The Bulgarian Navy officially acquired its first secondhand Tripartite-class minehunter from Belgium on Tuesday, raising the national naval flag on the former Belgian military vessel Bellis
during a ceremony at the naval base in Zeebrugge, news.bg reported. The ship, which carried the onboard hull number M916 while serving in the Belgian fleet, has been renamed the Breeze
pursuant to a trilateral defense acquisition agreement.
The transfer marks the operational execution of a memorandum of understanding signed on July 8, 2026, by defense officials from Bulgaria, Belgium, and the Netherlands to deliver a total of seven counter-mine vessels to the Bulgarian armed forces, bTV News reported. Under the agreement, Bulgaria will absorb four Belgian vessels and three Dutch vessels into its fleet over the coming years to bolster Black Sea security.
Ceremonial Transfer and Leadership Signatures
The formal handover protocol was signed in Zeebrugge by the Belgian National Armaments Director, Lieutenant General Bernard Faleg, and the Commander of the Bulgarian Naval Forces, Rear Admiral Kiril Михайлов, according to YOU. High-ranking military officials and diplomatic representatives attended the quayside proceedings to mark the integration of the vessel into NATO’s eastern flank architecture.
Among those present at the naval base were the Commander of the Belgian Navy, Rear Admiral Tanguy Botman, Bulgaria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, H.E. Natalia Uzunova, and Bulgaria’s Permanent Representative to NATO, Nikolai Milkov. They were joined by admirals, generals, and senior defense staff officers from both nations.
Black Sea Security and Fleet Integration
The newly renamed Breeze
is slated to undergo final preparations before making the voyage to its permanent home port at the Naval Base in Burgas, 24 chasa reported. Captain I Rank Yordan Yordanov, commander of the combat and auxiliary ship division within the Naval Flotilla, will serve as the senior national representative on board during the redeployment voyage to Bulgaria.
Military leadership emphasizes that the acquisition directly enhances the operational capabilities of the Bulgarian Navy to detect, locate, and neutralize sea mines.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the trilateral defense agreement signed?
The memorandum of understanding for the seven counter-mine vessels was signed by the defense ministers of Bulgaria, Belgium, and the Netherlands on July 8, 2026, according to bTV News.
What was the ship’s name before joining the Bulgarian fleet?
Before receiving its new honorary name Breeze
and flying the Bulgarian naval flag, the vessel operated in the Belgian Navy as the Bellis
with hull number M916, news.bg reported.
Where will the minehunter be stationed permanently in Bulgaria?
Following its departure from the naval base in Zeebrugge and subsequent transit preparations, the ship will be permanently homeported at the Naval Base in Burgas, 24 chasa reported.
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