The construction process can be followed here: 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018
Freire Shipyard in collaboration with the ship designer Rolls Royce Marine AS are designing the new research vessel.
3D images:
First tests on scale model at the MARIN institute in the Netherlands.
Further tests with scale model at MARIN (roll-decay, bubble sweep down, resistance).
Cavitation tests at MARIN.
The keel-laying at Freire Shipyard.
Thrusters tunnels are being installed. 28 blocks are already installed on the slipway.
Installation of the last bottom block of the hull is completed.
The factory acceptance test (FAT) of the steering gear is done at Kongsberg, Norway.
The factory acceptance test (FAT) of one of the gensets is done at Anglo Belgian Corporation nv (ABC) te Ghent.
Factory acceptance test of the switchboards is done at Kongsberg Maritime facilities in Gdansk, Poland.
Installation of the gensets on the new RV Belgica.
Factory acceptance test of the trawl winches is done at Ibercisa in Vigo, Spain.
Factory acceptance test of the harbor/emergency generator is done at Progener in Vigo, Spain.
Installation, amongst others, of the fishing winches and propellers.
Painting of the hull in white has started.
The future Belgian research vessel Belgica was launched for the first time on 11 February 2020 from the Freire Shipyard in Vigo, Spain. An important milestone following the keel laying, the equivalent of the laying of the foundation stone of a building, just under a year ago.
Press Release
Factory acceptance tests of the trawl winches and cranes are done at Ibercisa in Vigo, Spain.
Installation of the A-frame.
Installation of the T-frames and aft castles.
Installation of the foreward mast.
SAT (Sea Acceptance Test) of the RHIB.
FAT of the LARS (Launch & Recovery System) piston corer and of the scientific deck machinery.
Start-up of the switchboards.
First start-up of one of the 3 ABC engines.
SAT (Sea acceptance test).
Launch & recovery RHIB.
Reception of the RV Belgica in Vigo.
The new research vessel Belgica arrived in Zeebrugge.
She is ready to start her first scientific campaigns in January 2022.
