Reviving Belgium's most important maritime heritage: The New Belgica
In 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 (the scientists Arctowski and Dobrowolski), the Romanian scientist Emil Racovitza and the American Dr. Med. Frederick Cook, later on to become famous as explorer of the North Pole.
In connection with the rescue initiative, the non-profit association "New Belgica Genootschap" 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 historic vessel at a new wharf in Noeveren near Boom (Province of Antwerp). The wharf is an offspring of the Steenschuit nautical workshops, which are specialized in traditional shipbuilding and maritime restoration.
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 industrial companies, financial institutions and individuals are among the sponsors.
The Universities of Ghent and Liège, along with shipyard of naval engineer Vennekens, provide expertise in the planning and construction stages, along with several technical firms.
The reborn three-master Belgica will become an ambassador-ship to stimulate renewable energy and public awareness regarding climate change worldwide. She will also offer a platform for renewed expeditions to the polar regions -especially those which Adrien de Gerlache's expedition placed on the map.
Salvaging the wreck of the original Belgica
Interest in the Gerlache expedition has been significantly rekindled since Norwegian divers the discovered the wreck of the Belgica near Harstad, Norway in the 1990's. 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 a visitor's centre.
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 it sank 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 non-profit association, a socially oriented shipyard with workshops geared to train job-seekers and specialized in traditional naval construction techniques. It is located in the commune of Boom and the hamlet of Noeveren, on the banks of the river Rupel, a tributary of the river Scheldt some 20kms from Antwerp.
The shipyard is recognized by the Flemish Government as a training center for unemployed semi- and unskilled people. Under expert guidance they are taught a wide range of traditional and modern naval construction skills, which will give them new chances on the labour market and 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: Archonaut in Bruges, and Loods 13 in Ghent.
Detailed plans have been worked out with the help of the University of Ghent. The wharf in Noeveren near Boom was officially opened on 23th September 2011. The first of the 104 ribs of the vessel have been assembled.
The actual construction of the vessel will take about 5 to 7 years to complete.
In a later stage we envisage the creation of a visitor center with exhibits of many existing original memorabilia of the vessel and its historic Antarctic Expedition.
The New Belgica project is a member of a European Inter-regional North Sea partnership "Heroes2c" , which links it with the Medway Queen project, Rochester, UK, and the Jean Bart project (Tourville Association) in Gravelines near Dunkirk.
Partners of the Belgica Project are the following companies and institutions:
AERTSSEN, Arcelor Mittal, BASF, BELSPO (Belgian Science Policy Agency), BEKO (Asogem), Bureau Veritas, CMB, Delta Lloyd Bank, DEME4Life, FOREM, Commune of Boom, Hoek 76, Maritime Techniques of the University of Ghent, Belgian Ministry of Defense, Noblesse Benelux, PACO NV, Province of Antwerp, P&V Insurance Company, Rupel Regional Co-operation Agency, STARCO, VDAB, Government of Flanders, Vlaanderen-in-Actie (VIA), en SYNTRA.