An oceanographic research ship and service provider.
RESEARCH VESSEL BELGICA
The oceanographic Research Vessel Belgica, RV Belgica for friends, is owned by the Federal Science Policy (BelSPO). The ship is placed at the disposal of Belgian scientists: they can come on board to carry out their scientific research at sea. The Operational Direction Nature of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is responsible for ship management and planning and the organisation of scientific surveys at sea.
The Measurement Service Ostend (MSO), part of the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences of Belgium (RBINS), is responsible for the management of the oceanographic RV Belgica, the measurement facilities at sea and the data management of sand and gravel extraction.
In operation since: 1984
Access & costs: through research programs. The OD Nature (can be reached using contacts below) is responsible for the ship's budget, scientific instrumentation and campaign planning. Requests for verified data collected by the RV Belgica can be made to the Belgian Marine Data Centre.
Website: https://odnature.naturalsciences.be/belgica
Contact: Lieven Naudts, RBINS - lnaudts@naturalsciences.be
Photo credits: Hans Hillewaert (Lycaon)