The vessel is one of the 12 OSPREY-class Mineshunters that were built for the US Navy by AVONDALE INDUSTRIES INC in New Orleans, USA. She was launched in June 1993 and she was commissioned on 4 January 1994. She was received by the US Navy by the name MHC PELICAN and M – 53 characteristics.

On January 7 of 2007, the reception of the ship by the Greek crew began at the INGLESIDE Naval Station in Texas, USA. On March 16, 2007, she was received by Commander N. Gounaris HN and she was given the name HS EVNIKI (M – 61).

Since January 16 2008, when the ship was transferred to the Hellenic Naval Base of Salamina island, HS EVNIKI is administratively and operationally under the Mine Warfare Command (MNC).

The name EVNIKI comes from the Greek Mythology. Eunice was the daughter of Nereus and Oceanida and she was one of the fifty Nereids of ancient Greece. The Nereids were deities who lived in the sea and had the power to change the state of the sea from calm to storm and vice versa. In general, the Nereids remind us of the positive things that the sea offers to humanity.