Concerns mount over future of research vessel Belgica
There are serious concerns over the future of the research vessel Belgica. The French company that operates the ship unilaterally terminated the contract several months ago but the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) only confirmed the termination on Saturday.
The Belgica was inspected in Zeebrugge late last year by the FPS Mobility and the FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue. This followed a complaint about social dumping filed by the vessel’s Latvian technical crew with the International Transport Workers Federation.
According to the complaint, the French shipping company Genavir tried to conclude a collective bargaining agreement for the crew in Latvia. Since the ship was flying the Belgian flag, this violated the Maritime Labour Convention.
Genavir was given “several chances to put everything right”, the RBINS said on Saturday. When the company failed to do so, the ship’s sailing licence was revoked by the federal government.
Genavir then filed two lawsuits, one against the Belgian state and one against the FPS Mobility because it could no longer assume the role of operator due to the revocation of the licence.
'A ship without a crew'
With 400 square metres of laboratory space and a host of scientific instruments on board, the Belgica is a leading European marine research vessel. It also serves as an auxiliary ship of the naval component of Defence and has officers on board in that capacity. It was inaugurated in 2022.
“The Belgica is now a ship without a crew,” said the RBINS. “The programme was already largely cancelled for this year and we are very concerned that next year’s programme will also be almost completely cancelled. It is very important that the Belgica can continue all operations in the North Sea.”
Finding a new operator is likely to last many months, in part due to ongoing federal government formation talks and possible interventions at Belgium’s scientific institutions.
The RV Belgica at the naval base in Zeebrugge, April 2022 © BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER
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