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Belgica to return to sea after two years immobilized in Zeebrugge
The 'Belgica', which was immobilized following tensions with the French operator Genavir, responsible for maintenance and crewing, in the port of Zeebrugge, went to drydock for maintenence less than three months after a solution was found, before resuming missions in March. Marine growth on the hull has tp be re,pved- There also some warranty issues, By mid-March, all maintenance and repair work will be completed. The ship is jointly owned by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and the Belgian Ministry of Defence, which provides the three officers in command. The rest of the crew is provided by the French operator Genavir. IThis shared management caused problems in 2024. While the company managing the vessel is French, the crew is Latvian. Nearly two years ago, Genavir's license was revoked by the Belgian federal government, which opposed a collective bargaining agreement based on Latvian law. The Belgian authorities considered this akin to social dumping. Added to this were numerous unresolved technical problems. Genavir then terminated the contract and sued the Belgian federal government, leaving the 'Belgica' idled in Zeebrugge. New ministers in Belgium and a new director at Genavir reached an agreement in November 2025.
Research vessel stranded in Zeebrugge due to lengthy legal dispute
The 'Belgica remains stuck in the port of Zeebrugge due to an ongoing legal dispute between the Belgian government and the French company Genavir that operates it. While the ship remains under the command of three Belgian military officers, ongoing technical issues have triggered a legal dispute between Genavir and the Belgian state. Genavir has cancelled the contract and initiated legal proceedings against the government. Since then, the French company has only carried out the minimum necessary maintenance to prevent the ship from sinking. The 'Belgica' was at sea for 248 days for scientific purposes in 2023, but only for 29 days in 2024. No missions are scheduled for 2025. The legal procedure are still ongoing. There appeared to be delays in the French-speaking court of first instance in Brussels. Even if a new operator were selected soon,, the tendering process alone would take at least a year, so the 'Belgica' will almost certainly remain inactive until late 2026.
Inspection following complaint of social dumping
The Belgian Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Employment and Labor carried out inspections on board the 'Belgica' in Zeebrugge on Dec 11, 2023, following a complaint about social dumping. The Latvian technical crew of the 'Belgica' had filed a complaint with the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). The French shipping company Genavir, which is responsible for operating the ship, is said to have tried to negotiate a collective agreement for the crew in Latvia. Since the ship is flying the Belgian flag, this violates the International Labor Organization (ILO) Maritime Labor Convention. The Belgica serves as an auxiliary ship of the Belgian Navy and has Belgian officers on board. The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is responsible for the scientific activities on the ship. Based on the results of the inspection, a decision will be made as to whether and what measures will be taken against the shipping company. The General Directorate of Shipping has confirmed that the inspections have taken place.
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