REVIVING BELGIUM’S MOST IMPORTANT MARITIME HERITAGE
The New Belgica
Background
On 16 August 1897, a Belgian navy captain Adrien de Gerlache left Antwerp for the Antarctic with an international crew on a robust three-master, the Belgica. The expedition was the first Antarctic expedition of a purely scientific nature. It was also the first to spend a winter in the austral polar night, and to make extensive use of photography.
On 10 March 1898, and for twelve months, the Belgica was imprisoned in the ice. The ice-bound ship drifted over 3200 kilometers and was finally released on 14 March 1899 after much effort.
The expedition returned with an important scientific harvest and a complete annual cycle of observations, which are still relevant for scientific comparisons today.
The scientific data covered many fields : bathymetrical and hydrological soundings, numerous botanical and zoological samples, a large amount of oceanographical, meteorological, geomagnetic, glaciological and geological observation data.
Beside nine Belgians, the crew consisted of six Norwegians (incl. Roald Amundsen), two Poles (incl. the scientist Henryk Arctowski), one Romanian (the scientist Emil Racovitza) and an American (Dr. Med. Frederick Cook, explorer of the North Pole).
Interest in the expedition has been significantly rekindled since Norwegian divers the discovered the wreck of the Belgica near Harstad, Norway.
A Belgica Society was created in Ostend in 2006, with the aim of trying to salvage the wreck, or at least significant parts of it, for display in an exhibition area in the vicinity of Antwerp, the city from where the Belgica left on its epic journey.
In connection with the rescue initiative, the New Belgica vzw was established in August 2007 - exactly 100 years after the departure of the Belgica from Antwerp. A project was initiated to build a replica of the Belgica at the workshops of De Steenschuit, which are specialized in traditional shipbuilding.
The construction will last approximately five years (2009-2013). It was officially launched on Sunday, 9 September 2007, at a wharf in Noeveren, Boom, with the unvailing ceremony of the keel and a section of the hull by the Minister-President of Flanders, the Honourable Kris Peeters.
The project enjoys the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Paola of Belgium and the Governor of the Province of Antwerp. The Ministry of Defence, the Flemish Regional Government and a number of important private companies and banks are among the sponsors.
The Universities of Ghent and Liège provide expertise in the planning and construction stages, along with several technical firms.
The reborn three-master Belgica would become an ambassador-ship to stimulate public awareness regarding climate change worldwide and offer a platform for renewed expeditions to the polar regions.
Salvaging the wreck
The Belgica Society has drawn up a detailed inventory of the wreck, in accordance with the highest archeological professional standards. The Norwegian Navy will take care of the removal of the remaining ammunition (Before sinking in 1940 the vessel was used by British forces as an ammunition depot).
Subsequently, the raising of the entire wreck is being studied. If that would turn out to be impossible, due to the fragile state of the wreck, plan B would provide for the lifting of major portions and parts of the deck equipment.
The wreck, or major parts of it, would be exhibited in a visitor center, along with a number of memorabilia of the Belgica Expedition owned by the National Maritime Museum in Antwerp.
Building the new Belgica
The lead organisation for this crucial part of the project is De Steenschuit, a shipyard with workshops specialized in traditional naval construction techniques. It is located in the commune of Boom, on the banks of the river Rupel, a tributary of the river Scheldt.
The shipyard is recognized by the Flemish Government as a training center for unemployed semi- and unskilled youngsters. Under expert guidance they are taught a wide range of traditional and modern naval construction skills, which will benefit them in their future jobs.
Parts of the New Belgica will be built by shipyards with workshops of a similar social vocation and experience: Maritime Site Oostende, Archonaut in Bruges, and Loods 13 in Antwerp.
Detailed planning is being finalized and scheduled over a five-year time frame (2009-2013).
Facilities
The present facilities of De Steenschuit do not allow for the construction of a three-master the size of the Belgica (118 x 25 x13.5 feet / 263 tonnes). Therefore the New Belgica will be built and launched at an abandoned shipyard with a suitable dock in the hamlet of Noeveren, near Boom.
The adjacent administrative building and workshop are suitable to become the Visitor Center with exhibits of memorabilia relating to the Belgica Expedition and documentation concerning other historic and contemporary Antarctic and Arctic explorations. Climate change and its impact on polar regions will be a major theme as well.
Partners of the Belgica Project
- Arcelor Mittal Steelworks
- Delta Lloyd Bank
- BASF
- Belgian Ministry of Defence
- Flemish Regional Government
- Flemish Public Employment and Vocational Training Agency (VDAB)
- Walloon Public Employment and Vocational Training Agency (FOREM)
- Commune of Boom
- BEKO Belgium (Appliances)
- Star Co (Scandinavian Tyre and Rim Company)
- P & V (Insurance Company)
- Hoek 76 (Industrial Park of the Commune of Boom)
- Tourism Co-operation Agency of the Rupel River Region