Lithuania approves no-bid contract for minesweeper modernisation to ensure national security
The Lithuanian government has authorised the defence procurement agency to bypass public tender rules for the modernisation of the M55 minesweeper, citing critical national security interests, LRT reports.
The decision, announced on Wednesday, allows the Gynybos Resursų Agentūra (Defence Resources Agency) to directly award the contract to Vakarų Laivų Remontas (Western Ship Repair) and its subcontractor, Western Baltic Engineering. The exemption from competitive bidding was justified under EU law, which permits member states to take necessary measures to protect essential security interests related to arms and military equipment.
The modernisation will include overhauling the ship’s hull, integrating sonar systems, autonomous underwater vehicles, artillery (including a deck gun), mine-hunting robots, and sensor equipment. The Defence Ministry emphasised that the upgrade is vital for ensuring maritime mobility, reliable mine threat control in the Baltic Sea, and the expansion of Lithuania’s naval capabilities—particularly in safeguarding independent trade and energy supply routes.
By sourcing the modernisation services domestically, Lithuania aims to establish a secure and dependable supply chain, enabling rapid repairs and upgrades even during crises or wartime. The proximity of Klaipėda’s shipyard infrastructure would streamline logistics, ensuring continuous technical oversight and maintenance without reliance on foreign providers.
Vakarų Laivų Remontas and its partner confirmed their technical capacity to refurbish the Hunt-class glass-reinforced plastic hull, install sonar and autonomous systems, and integrate the specified weaponry. Without this exemption, the agency would have been required to open the contract to international competition.
The M55, originally a British Hunt-class minesweeper, was transferred to Lithuania in 2011 and has since undergone incremental upgrades. The latest modernisation aligns with the navy’s broader strategy to enhance mine countermeasure capabilities in the Baltic Sea.