Campaign table » Four members of the Belgica expedition were expected to spend the winter at Cape Adare on the north-easternmost peninsula of Victoria land; the rest of the expedition would sail toward Melbourne, Australia, while continuing to explore the Pacific Ocean, and return to Antarctica to retrieve the overwinterers the following summer. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. long sailing laboratory used by the researchers of the OD Nature » .vessel-content .row{ Natural Environment, Earth & History of Life, Taxonomy & Philogeny, You are now visiting: padding-bottom: 5px; Coring and sampling capability up to 5000 m water depth. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. All vessel equipment will be made available to EurofleetsPlus Users on request. The mission and the data collected will be used to teach students about the rapid changes taking place that affect the Antarctic ecosystem, and how this impacts humanity. The fish lab will be fitted with a stainless-steel fish sorting system and different freezers (-20°C & 80°C) and refrigerators will be available. The new Belgica will ensure compliance with national and international obligations and continuity in support of marine sciences. soil and living organisms. But imagine the early days of Antarctic exploration, when ships were smaller and slower, powered by wind or steam, food had to be provisioned for months at sea, often in the form of live animals taken onboard, warm clothing consisted of thick burlap or fur, and navigation was governed by the stars. “[My grandfather] was convinced that polar exploration would be the final goal of our planet’s geographical discoveries,” explained Bernard de Gerlache. Thank you! Belgian oceanographic research ship: the Research Vessel British explorer James Cook became the first to cross the Antarctic Circle in 1773 and reached a latitude of 71°S  in January 1774, then sailed within 75 nautical miles of the Antarctic mainland. The Belgica crossed the Antarctic Circle on February 15, 1998. to all the remote corners of the Belgian part of the All smaller coring and sampling gear can be deployed as well. 5 dry labs, 3 wet labs, one scientific coordination and a data acquisition room) with a total lab space of more than 400 m2. AUMS (Autonomous Underway Measurement System): An elaborate “ferrybox” system for measuring physical, biological and chemical seawater properties (temperature, conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, chlorophyll, algae classes, fluorescence, dissolved organic matter, pCO2, etc.) The cookies we use are “analytical” cookies. And in 1898, Belgian Adrien de Gerlache’s Belgica expedition was the first to spend an entire winter within the Antarctic Circle. Yes, for operation in neighbouring EEZ’s e.g. efficiently, day and night. The late 1800s are known as the beginning of the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. MeBo70 drill rig & BGS RD2 rock drill can be deployed, as well as a 15 m piston corer. /* ----------------------------------------- */ This expedition, led by Adrien de Gerlache using the 5 dry labs, 3 wet labs, one scientific coordination and a data acquisition room) with a total lab space of more than 400 m. . These cookies do not store any personal information. Suitable for all kinds of research campaign from the shelf (10 m water depth) to “full” ocean depth (5000 m water depth): All systems up to 105 ton total deck load can be deployed. .vessel-content-right img{ processes which occur (monitoring). Despite the challenges and hardships, dozens of expeditions were mounted to attempt to penetrate the ice flows in order to reach Terra Australis Incognita, the Unknown Southern Continent, from as early as the 1400s. Operational Directorate Natural Environmentscientific web sites and applications. responsibility for the ship's budget, the scientific Any possible health issues should be discussed prior to the campaign with the Coordinator RV Belgica and the Commander RV Belgica. The Belgica, a converted sealer, was custom fitted for the Antarctic polar expedition. De Gerlache and the ship’s captain Georges Lecointe were well aware of the risks of pack ice but pressed forward as winter neared. RV Belgica’s international campaigns have The research that is carried out on the RV Belgica Oops! On longer campaigns, she even sails into Moroccan, Portuguese, Spanish, French, The Belgica expedition was full of risks: Surviving the Antarctic winter following the long voyage from Belgium and the famous storms of the Southern Ocean—a terrifying prospect. There will be deck space for seven gear and lab containers. /* ----------------------------------------- */ BELGICA, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. The ship is a 50.9 metre RELOAD PAGE. The RV Belgica monitors the quality of the North Sea by constantly collecting all kinds of data about the biological, chemical, physical, geological and hydrodynamic processes which occur (monitoring). Requirements for other jurisdictions to be addressed via the diplomatic clearance process. » Silent (DNV-GL Silent-R) & ice-strengthened multidisciplinary research vessel that is purposely build to deploy all large (and small) existing European marine research equipment (ROVs, AUVs, drill rigs, etc.). A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we put on your computer if you agree. Ship call 2021 (Dutch), Technical specifications RV Belgica II is a silent multidisciplinary oceanographic & fisheries research vessel built in 2020. Research programmes », Ship call 2021 (French) The OD Nature of RBINS takes The current position of BNS BELGICA is at North Sea (coordinates 51.33597 N / 3.19853 E) reported 1 min ago by AIS. The RV Belgica monitors the quality of the North Sea by the crew and enforced a diet of fresh seal meat. Applicants are welcomed to discuss the initial feasibility of their work while they prepare their application with the operator of. together and work in shifts, so that all available ship time is used ice, the crew again supervised by Amundsen and Cook, This account by Ship's layout, Research within our Institute: Belgian Navy. with position-controlled automatic water sampler. Learn more about the Saildrone Antarctic Circumnavigation at saildrone.com/antarctica and download STEM-oriented lesson plans, free for teachers and educators. “It was as a naval officer with a serious scientific background that he embarked on the adventure of the Belgica.”.