An oceanographic research ship and service provider

The oceanographic research ship Belgica belongs to the Belgian State and falls under the responsibility of the Belgian Science Policy. The ship and its scientific equipment are managed by MUMM, which is also responsible for planning and organising scientific campaigns at sea. The Belgian navy provides the crew and takes care of the operational aspects as well as the moorage in Zeebrugge, the Belgica's home port.

The oceanographic research vessel Belgica

This all-purpose research vessel, which spends around two hundred days a year at sea, both monitors the quality of the marine environment and undertakes numerous expeditions for scientific research.

The Belgica monitors the quality of the North Sea by constantly collecting all sorts of data on the biological, chemical, physical, geological and hydrodynamic processes which take place there. In addition to this, the ship is a floating laboratory for researchers from the universities and scientific institutes of Belgium in their quest for a better understanding of the structure and working of the ecosystem of the North Sea.

Thanks to its all-purpose nature and special equipment together with its versatile oceanographic instruments, the Belgica not only meets the needs of the Belgian teams working in the field of marine sciences, but also those of foreign teams with whom there is close co-operation in the context of European research programmes.

However, the scientific activities on board can suddenly take a totally different turn. As soon as reports come in of a shipwreck involving a dangerous load or an oil spill, the Belgica changes course immediately if necessary and makes its way to the site of the catastrophe. In this case, its task is primarily to examine the impact of the incident on the sea environment by taking regular water samples and measurements. If necessary, the scientists, students and technicians make way for experts in the relevant field. In the meantime, the MUMM modellers examine the spread of the products harmful to the marine environment using mathematical models. Fortunately, such major catastrophes at sea occur only sporadically.

 The Belgica's working area: the North Sea

 Welcome on board

 Equipment on deck

 Oceanographic instruments

 Laboratories

 Measurement campaigns

 ODAS / Where is the Belgica?