Mercator (ship)

Mercator visiting Trinidad, c. 1960
History
Belgium
NameMercator
NamesakeGerardus Mercator
BuilderRamage and Ferguson Ltd, Leith, Scotland
Launched1932
StatusMuseum ship
General characteristics
Tonnage770 gross tons
Length78.5 m (258 ft) overall; 68 m (223 ft) hull length[1]
Beam10.6 m (35 ft)
Heightforemast 39 m (128 ft); mainmast 41 m (135 ft); mizzenmast 40 metres (130 ft)
Draft5.1 m (17 ft)
Sail planThree-masted barquentine, 15 sails: four jibs, four square foresails, three staysails, two spankers, two gaff topsails
Speed13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Crew150

Mercator is a steel-hulled barquentine built in 1932 as a training ship for the Belgian merchant fleet. She was named after Gerardus Mercator (1512–1594), a Belgian cartographer. She was designed by G.L. Watson & Co. and built in Leith, Scotland[2] and launched in 1932.

Besides being a training ship, she was also used, mainly before World War II, for scientific observations, or as ambassador for Belgium on world fairs and in sailing events.

In 1961, she became a floating museum, first in Antwerp and, from 1964, in the marina of Ostend, just in front of the city hall. As of 2019, she remains open to visitors.[3]

  1. ^ Schauffelen, Otmar (2005). Chapman Great Sailing Ships of the World. Hearst Books. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-58816-384-4. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  2. ^ [1][permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Uren". Zeilschip Mercator. Retrieved 17 September 2019.