RV BELGICA

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences – Operational Directorate Natural Environment (RBINS-OD Nature)

3de en 23ste Linieregimentsplein, B-8400 Ostend, Belgium

https://odnature.naturalsciences.be/belgica/en/

https://odnature.naturalsciences.be/belgica/en/table

65N – 32N & 15W – 15E

North Atlantic shelves from Norway over Ireland to Morocco.

The vessel has a free aft deck of 140 m² and is equipped with 6 laboratories and two areas reserved for scientific operations on the bridge: 110 m² in total. Side working deck: 20 m²; Wet lab: 20 m²; Dry lab space microbiology: 12 m²; chemical lab:10 m²; biology lab: 12 m²; Fish lab: 20 m² with direct access to the rear deck; Computer room: 12 m²; Pilot house: two zones are reserved for scientific work: 17 m²;

Cold store to – 25°C: 8 m²; to 0°C: 6 m²;Storage 70 m² at the intermediate deck; Two 20 feet containers can be installed on the upper deck (level 1)

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.) with position-controlled automatic water sampler.

See: https://odnature.naturalsciences.be/belgica/en/equipment

CTD equipment: Sea-Bird SBE19 CTD (2x), Sea-Bird SBE9plus CTD (2x), Sea-Bird SBE21 thermosalinograph (2x)

Water sampling equipment: Sea-Bird model 32 carousel for 12 10 liter Niskin bottles (2x), Various Niskin and Go-Flo water sampling bottles

Various plankton nets can be deployed.

Kongsberg EM3002D shallow water multibeam echosounder system

Kongsberg EA400 with 33, 38 and 210 kHz transducer

Over the side system can be installed

Coring systems up to 5 m length (gravity & vibro), box corers, etc.

* Telescopic crane:  Effer Marine 44.000-3 ton/1 m SWL;

* Net winch: 14.8 tons outer layer, capacity 7 m³;

* A-frame aft: H 5.9 m, W 5.0 m, capacity 2 x 6 tons;

* A-frame SB: H 3.0 m, W 1.3 m, capacity 1.0 ton;

* Davit SB: H 1.8 m, outboard 2.5 m, capacity 0.5 ton;

* 2 Fisheries winches: 8 tons, 6.4 tons at 60 m/min;

* Oceanographic single drum winch: 365 kg at 60 m/min, 1000 m (RVS) cable 5 mm;

* Oceanographic double drum winch: 365 kg at 60 m/min 1000 m (RVS) cable 5 mm and 1 700 m coaxial 6.45 mm STD profiling cable.

VSAT: KU Band 512 Kbps up/256 down CIR, burstable to 1536/768 Kbps

ICOS AUMS underway system

Ability to switch from direct diesel propulsion to silent electrical propulsion

Suitable for all kinds of research campaign from the shelf (10 m water depth) to the shelf slope (1500 m water depth):

• Oceanographic surveys
• Fishery surveys
• ROV & AUV surveys
• Geologic incl. seismic survey
• Biological surveys
• Hydrographic surveys
• Chemistry surveys

The ship is limited for operations up to 1500 m water depth. Due to the size restrictions large workhorse ROV deployments can’t be performed

Smaller ROV types have been deployed successfully (e.g. VLIZ ROV Genesis)

All vessel equipment will be made available to EurofleetsPlus Users on request.  Technical support on vessel equipment will be available during the entire survey.

Applicants are welcomed to discuss the initial feasibility of their work while they prepare their application with the operator of RV  Belgica at e-mail address: Lieven.Naudts@naturalsciences.be

No certification required. Any possible health issues should be discussed prior to the campaign with the Coordinator RV Belgica and the Commander RV Belgica.

No medical checks required. Any possible health issues should be discussed prior to the campaign with the Coordinator RV Belgica and the Commander RV Belgica.

No certification requirements.

No certification requirements.

Yes, for operation in neighbouring EEZ’s e.g. UK, France, Netherlands, Spain, Ireland (and others as applicable).  Required to be submitted to MSO@naturalsciences.be  6 months prior to cruise

Requirements for other jurisdictions to be addressed via the diplomatic clearance process.