News and announcements

09 March 2010 — Eurofleets: financed ship time

The Eurofleets call for ship time is now open! You are now able to apply for fully funded ship time on a range of European research vessels in the frame of the EU funded project Eurofleets "Towards an alliance of European research fleets".

Eurofleets is a European Union FP7 research infrastructure project to foster the cooperation within research fleets across Europe. It is an ambitious project integrating 24 marine institutes, universities and enterprises from 16 European and associated countries.

Under the umbrella of Eurofleets a transnational call is launched for access on 18 European research vessels. The aim of the call is to provide ship-time for multi-national, collaborative research projects that will address important questions relating to all fields of basic marine research. A total of 66 fully funded days of ship-time on 5 Ocean class research vessels and 110 days of ship-time on 13 Regional class ships (like the Belgica) is available, including the use of large equipment such as ROVs and submersibles, between 2011 and 2013.

Eurofleets particularly aims to promote multi-disciplinary work and to encourage research proposals and integration of partners that have only limited access to marine infrastructure.

A detailed description of the research vessels participating in the Eurofleets project, their technical capabilities, available scientific instrumentation and equipment, completed by a brief description of the obtainable ship time and area of operation can be found on the website.

Full proposals are accepted until a deadline of Monday 31st of May.

Permalink | Send this story to a friend

05 March 2010 — ENSIS project

Between 12 and 26 February 2010, scientists took samples for the research project EnSIS (Ecosystem Sensitivity to Invasive Species). The project is financed by the Federal Science Policy and aims to understand how the American jack knife clam (Ensis directus) has adapted to our waters. Since 1987, E.directus established extensive populations in Belgian waters, after it has been introduced in the German part of the North Sea. Scientists want to see what the impact is on local benthic communities and on the predators.

Scientists do not yet understand where the clams lives and in what densities. The clam can bury itself deeply into the sediment. It is not known what the effects of its presence are on the indigenous species by going into competition with habitat or food, or by changing the sediment it is living in.

The species also has commercial value: it is fished in the Netherlands and appreciated in Spain, Italy, France. It is necessary to check if commercial fishery is possible in Belgium, checking productiveness and impact on the environment of such possible fishing activities.

Permalink | Send this story to a friend

12 February 2010 — Pollutions observed in 2009

In 2009, 130 flying hours were spent performing aerial observations at sea and along the coast with the remote sensing aircraft in the framework of the Coast guard.

27 pollutions have been detected at sea in 2009. Among them, there are:
- 15 operational oil pollutions by daylight,
- 3 oil pollutions at night (high probability),
- 1 chemical pollution,
- 6 undetermined pollutions, probably chemical,
- 2 (legal) vegetable pollutions.

The link between pollution and a polluter was established 3 times. One illegal chemical discharge was detected in English waters; this ship paid an administrative fine. Two vessels were found discharging oil in Belgian waters and a file has been introduced to the competent authorities. 6 natural slicks were also observed, probably corresponding to algae blooms.

During transit, take off and landing procedures, 12 oil pollutions were observed in the port of Antwerp and 4 oil pollutions in the port of Ostend. The observations were reported to the Maritime Police for further investigation and follow-up.

The frequency of the observation of oil pollutions is stabilising (see figure) but  MUMM remains vigilant!

Frequency of oil spills detected per flying hour (Belgian program of aerial observation or Belgian North Sea Survey). 1991, 2005 and 2006 are all three years of transition (start-up phase for 1991 and change of aerial surveillance program for 2005 - and to a lesser extent in 2006).

Permalink | Send this story to a friend

05 February 2010 — Belgica programme 2010

In 2010, the Belgica will also be there for science. 39 scientific campaigns will be executed by scientists from 15 research units from all over the country, for their (inter)national research programmes.

You can mark these days in your agenda: on 11 and 12 September the Belgica will be open to the public, in the city of Bruges!

The programme of 2010 looks very promising!

Permalink | Send this story to a friend

04 February 2010 — New Commander for the Belgica

On Friday, January 29th, the official change of command ceremony of the A962 Belgica occurred in the naval base of Zeebrugge. Commander Luc De Maesschalck was appointed as the new commander of the oceanographic research vessel.

In his leaving speech Commander Joosen, who was responsible for the ship during the last two and a half years, thanked his crew for the pleasant cooperation. Commander De Maesschalck has left on Monday for his first campaign with the Belgica.

Permalink | Send this story to a friend

Next page    Last page