The Belgian research vessel the Belgica has been tied up at a berth at the West Flemish port of Zeebrugge for the past year. The scientific research ship that was launched in 2022 is owned by the Belgian state but operated by the French shipping company Genavir. 3 members of the Belgian armed forces are in joint command of the ship.
Legal wrangling between the Belgian authorities and Genavir that amongst other things has been caused by a dispute concerning technical defects on the ship has meant that the Belgica has remained tied up at the quayside.
David Cox of the Federal Science Policy Department told VRT News that "Since then the French shipping company has carried out minimal maintenance work on board the Belgica. In order to prevent the expensive research ship from sinking”.
No days at sea in 2025 and 2026
The liberal member of the Flemish parliament Jasper Pillen told VRT News that it is scandalous that the ship has remained in port for the past year. "A state-of-the-art floating laboratory is being left to rust at Zeebrugge. To my mind this is an unacceptable scandle”.
Mr Pillen asked for statistics from the Federal Science Police Minister Venessa Matz (Francophone centrist). The figures show that since its launch in 2022 the Belgica has spent just 248 days at sea. Last year the ship was at sea for just 29 days and it will not sail at all this year or next. “This is a complete waste, and a shame for a ship that cost 54 million euro. I ask the minister to act quickly.”
Lengthy procedure
However, David Cox of the Science Policy Administration says that Minister Matz will not be able to provide a quick response. "Because the legal proceedings are still ongoing. There are some delays at the Francophone Court of First Instance in Brussels, so this could take some time. We are still looking for a solution in the meantime."
"Either we have to continue our collaboration with Genavir or we have to start looking for a new operator for the ship. But even if the minister decides to issue a new tender tomorrow, it will take a year to complete the procedure. So, we will not have a new operator before by the end of 2026."
Ms Matz has told Mr Pillen "that given the situation, it is difficult to confirm with certainty that the Belgica will be operational in 2026."