RV Belgica (1884)

"SS Belgica (1884)" redirects here. For other ships, see RV Belgica and SS Belgica.
Belgica trapped in the ice, 1898
History
Name
  • Patria (1884–96)
  • Belgica (1896–1916)
  • Isfjord (1916–1917)
  • Belgica (1917–1940)
Owner
  • Johan Christian Jakobsen (1884–96)
  • Adrien de Gerlache (1896–1902)
  • N C Halvorsen (1902)
  • Prince Philippe, Duke of Orléans (1902–1916)
  • Det Norske Kulsyndikat (1916–1917)
  • Kristian Holst (1917–1940)
  • Franco-British Expeditionary Force (1940)
Operator
  • Johan Christian Jakobsen (1884–1896)
  • Adrien de Gerlache (1896–1897)
  • Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897–1899)
  • Adrien de Gerlache (1899–1902)
  • N C Halvorsen (1902)
  • Prince Philippe, Duke of Orléans (1902–1916)
  • Det Norske Kulsyndikat (1916–1917)
  • Kristian Holst (1917–1940)
  • Franco-British Expeditionary Force (1940)
Port of registry
  • Norway Svelvik (1884–1896)
  • Belgium Antwerp (1896–1916)
  • Norway Spitsbergen (1916–1917)
  • Norway Harstad (1917–1940)
BuilderChristian Brinch Jørgensen
Launched1884
Out of service19 May 1940
FateScuttled June 1940
General characteristics
Type
  • Whaler (1884–1896)
  • Research ship (1896–1901)
  • Whaler (1901–1904)
  • Research ship (1904–1909)
  • Whaler (1909–1918)
  • Factory ship (1918–1940)
  • Depôt ship (1940)
Tonnage263 GRT
Length35.97 m (118 ft 0 in)
Beam7.62 m (25 ft 0 in)
Draught4.11 m (13 ft 6 in)
PropulsionSails, steam engine
Sail planBarque (1884–1918)
Complement23 (Belgian Antarctic Expedition)

Belgica was a barque-rigged steamship that was built in 1884 by Christian Brinch Jørgensen at Svelvik, Norway as the whaler Patria. In 1896, she was purchased by Adrien de Gerlache for conversion to a research ship, taking part in the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897–1901, becoming the first ship to overwinter in the Antarctic. In 1902, she was sold to Philippe, Duke of Orléans and used on expeditions to the Arctic in 1905 and from 1907 to 1909.

In 1916, she was sold and converted to a passenger and cargo ship, serving Spitsbergen from the Norwegian mainland under the name Isfjord. In 1918, she was sold and renamed Belgica, being converted to a factory ship. Requisitioned by the British in April 1940, she was used as a depôt ship, being scuttled when the Franco-British Expeditionary Force evacuated Harstad in northern Norway. In 2007, plans to build a modern replica of Belgica were announced.