First new Romanian warship in 36 years reaches the Black Sea with interim defence minister on board

Delivery voyage

Romania's newest warship, the corvette 'Contraamiral August Roman' (pennant number 261), arrived in the Black Sea from Turkey on 9 July 2026 ahead of its scheduled entry into the military port of Constanța on Friday, 10 July. The vessel, built in Turkey, had been officially commissioned into the Romanian Naval Forces on 20 June and spent the following weeks on an intensive training period before the crossing. The 85-member crew conducted drills throughout the 14-hour voyage, rehearsing the full spectrum of operations the ship will perform once declared fully operational.

Minister at sea

Interim Minister of National Defence Radu Miruță chose to return from the NATO summit in Ankara aboard the new platform. He posted photographs on Facebook showing himself in a naval uniform alongside the crew, describing the crossing as a moment of understanding 'the true strength of an army'.

There are moments when you understand in detail that the true strength of an army is not a ship, an airplane, or a weapon system. It is the people who bring them to life.

He thanked the ship's commander, Lieutenant Commander Huruială, Commander Ioan, and the full complement of 85 sailors for what he called genuine respect shown through deeds, not grand words. Miruță stated the crew carried out training exercises during the crossing and that performance is never the result of a single person, but of a team.

Naval salute on the Black Sea

During the repositioning voyage toward Constanța, the corvette met the frigate 'Regele Ferdinand' (221), a Type 22R vessel that is one of the Romanian fleet's most operationally experienced ships. The frigate is currently participating in the multinational exercise BREEZE 2026, organised by the Bulgarian Navy. The two warships exchanged the traditional naval salute, a gesture the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) called symbolic of the new corvette's integration into the fleet's operational structures.

In naval tradition, the salute between two military ships is not just a gesture of courtesy, but one of respect and recognition between crews.

The encounter also constituted the first training sequence the corvette conducted jointly with another Romanian Naval Forces vessel, according to MApN.

Capabilities and obligations

Miruță described the corvette as a modern, well-built ship that has only a few remaining steps before it is ready for complex missions. Its design brief spans surveillance, patrol, anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface combat, and helicopter operations from the deck. The minister emphasised it is the first new ship to enter Romanian naval service in 36 years.

Romania has the people. Our duty is to show that it also has the means.

Miruță added that those holding public office temporarily have an obligation to provide the professionals in uniform with the equipment they need, and that it is now the government's turn to do its duty toward them. The corvette's arrival in port was scheduled for Friday after completing the instruction period and the crossing.