A former Royal Navy minehunter has officially joined the Romanian Navy, marking a significant step in strengthening NATO maritime defences in the Black Sea.
The vessel, once known as HMS Pembroke, has been recommissioned as Capitan Constantin Dumitrescu (M217) in a formal ceremony at Rosyth, Scotland. The transfer is part of a wider UK initiative to support allied nations through the sale of decommissioned military assets.
The handover follows the sale of both HMS Pembroke and her sister ship, HMS Blyth, through the Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA), the body responsible for disposing of surplus UK defence platforms.
“We are pleased to see former HMS Pembroke commissioned into the Romanian Naval Forces,” said Major General Rich Cantrill, Commander Operations for the Royal Navy. “She will play a key role in Black Sea security going forward and this demonstrates the strengthening bond between our two Nations’ militaries.”
The event was attended by senior Romanian and British defence officials, including Vice Admiral Mihai Panait, Chief of the Romanian Navy. Representatives from Babcock and the UK Ministry of Defence were also present. The Romanian flag was raised over the vessel for the first time, and guests toured the extensively refurbished ship.
The transfer is the result of a comprehensive regeneration programme led by Babcock and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S). The refit ensures the vessel remains fully capable of conducting modern mine warfare operations.
Commodore Richard Whalley, former Head of Sales and Exports at DE&S, now Deputy Director Exports and Sales at the National Armaments Director Group, commented:
“We are pleased to have found HMS Pembroke a new home with the Romanian Navy. This agreement highlights the strong relationship we have with our allies and feeds into NATO’s collective mission of supporting global security.”
Sir Nick Hine, Chief Executive of Babcock’s Marine Sector, added:
“This milestone reflects the importance of international collaboration and capability-building. At Babcock, we’re honoured to have played a role in her regeneration.”
Black Sea Security in Focus
The vessel is designed for deep-water mine countermeasures, a key capability in the strategically vital Black Sea, particularly in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At 52.5 metres long and weighing 485 tonnes, the ship is fitted with high-definition sonar and the ATLAS Seafox mine disposal system. It can also deploy clearance divers to neutralise underwater threats.
While the UK is phasing out the Sandown-class in favour of autonomous mine warfare systems, transferring these vessels helps NATO partners bolster their regional capabilities during a period of heightened maritime risk.
This sale follows similar transfers of minehunters to Lithuania, Estonia, Greece, Ukraine, and commercial operators, reinforcing NATO’s commitment to interoperability and collective security.
