The Belgian Navy’s third patrol ship, the BNS Vega, was launched on Thursday in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
According to Defence Minister Theo Francken, Vega will join sister ships Castor and Pollux in safeguarding the North Sea and critical infrastructure.
Francken made the announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The BNS Vega, will be based at the naval facility in Zeebrugge and will operate primarily along Belgium’s coastline.
Francken explained that its name, Vega, refers to one of the brightest stars in the night sky, historically used as a navigational beacon.
Belgium’s naval component already operates two patrol ships, Castor and Pollux, which handle law enforcement duties at sea.
Their tasks include performing fisheries inspections, detecting pollution, and combating smuggling and illegal trade in collaboration with federal police and customs authorities.
The decision to commission a third patrol ship was approved in early 2024, during the tenure of then-Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder.
