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

80N – 28N & 55W – 36E

North Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Baltic Sea

The ship will have 13 labs (e.g. 5 dry labs, 3 wet labs, one scientific coordination and a data acquisition room) with a total lab space of more than 400 m². 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. There will be deck space for seven gear and lab containers.

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: http://www.belspo.be/belspo/NewRV/specification_en.stm 

CTD equipment: Sea-Bird SBE19 CTD (2x), Sea-Bird SBE9plus CTD (2x), Sea-Bird SBE21 thermosalinograph (2x), SBE 911 CTD (2x)

Water sampling equipment: Sea-Bird model 32 carousel for 12 10 liter Niskin bottles (2x) and for 24 10 liter Niskin bottles (2x), Various Niskin and Go-Flo water sampling bottles

Thermosalinograph Seabird, 2 x  SBE21, with 2 x temperature sensor SBE38;

Various plankton nets can be deployed.

* Deep Water Multibeam Echo Sounder Kongsberg EM304, 1×1 Degree System

* Parametric Sub-Bottom Profiler TOPAS PS18 System; 

* Shallow Water Multibeam Echo Sounder Kongsberg EM2040-04 Dual SX, Single Swath System;

* Omnidirectional fishery Sonar Simrad SU90 System;

* Scientific Multibeam Echo Sounder Simrad ME70 System;

* Scientific Split Beam Echo Sounders Simrad EK80, 6 Channel System.

Kongsberg HiPAP 502 system

Coring and sampling capability up to 5000 m water depth. MeBo70 drill rig & BGS RD2 rock drill can be deployed, as well as a 15 m piston corer. All smaller coring and sampling gear can be deployed as well.

3 Cranes (FWD, MID, AFT) – 1.5t, 4t, 8t

2 CTD Winches (STBD) – AHC – 5500 m

Multifunctional Winch (STBD) – 5500 m

Hydrographic Winch (AFT/STBD) – 5500 m

2 Trawl Winches – 40t – 5500 m

Net Drum Winch – 30t – 10 m²

Split Net Drum Winch – 30t – 8 m² each

Net Sonde Winch – 4.2t – 5500 m

2 Gilson Winches – 10t – 200 m

CTD Gantry & LARS (STBD)

2 STBD T-frame Gantries – 15t

AFT A-Frame – 30t

VSAT: TBC

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.).

ICOS AUMS underway system

Suitable for all kinds of research campaign from the shelf (10 m water depth) to “full” ocean depth (5000 m water depth):

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

All systems up to 105 ton total deck load can be deployed.

All large EU research ROVs can be deployed (ROV Victor, ROV Quest, ROV Kiel 6000, ROV Holland I, etc.).

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.