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How R/V Belgica became Borys Aleksandrov

31/01/2022

At the end of October 2021, the long-awaited research vessel Belgica arrived in Odesa. The Kingdom of Belgium donated the vessel to Ukraine. Now, the research vessel conducts environmental research in the Black Sea.

The distance from the Zeebrugge, Belgium to Odesa, Ukraine is 8,600 km. The journey of Belgica to its new home ran across the North Sea, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. The transfer of the research vessel was organized and financed by the EU/UNDP project “European Union for Improving the Environmental Monitoring of the Black Sea” (EU4EMBLAS)

However, this was not a simple of transfer of a vessel from one port to another – for nearly three weeks, the scientists worked on the “Monitoring the Three European Seas” scientific programme, which is also being implemented by the project.

From the notes of the cruise at R/V Belgica, 4 October 2021.

“The first day of our cruise just finished. Yesterday, we made the first station in the Northern Sea – due to very heavy weather conditions only several tasks were successfully done like: taking seawater samples using bathometer for DNA analysis; 1000 L of seawater passed through the cascade of sieves for microplastics; seawater spot samples (2 L for liquid chromatography and 30 L for gas chromatography); large volume of solid-phase extraction is running (actually passed through the system more than 600 L of seawater).

We passed the Canal La Manche and continue in our cruise to the station number two.”

In 2017, R/V Belgica underwent major repairs. The donation of the vessel to Ukraine is extremely well-timed, as the previous research vessel was lost due to annexation of Crimea by Russia. Belgica has equipment on board required for monitoring the sea – it is even fitted with special sonars to scan the sea bottom.

From the notes of the cruise at R/V Belgica, 15 October 2021.

“Fortunately, we had luck to get the first portion of sediment from the depth of 130 m. Today we are sailing around Cyclades islands, hoping to have luck to add one more station with sediment. Besides, they have processed almost 17 m3 of seawater for intended analyses to be done later on.”

Therefore, during their cruise, the scientists assessed the presence of floating debris, took samples of seawater and bottom sediments for a unique analysis for the presence of tens of thousands of substances – contaminants and microplastics, conducted research on marine biodiversity.

“It is impossible to research the sea from the shore,” says Olena Marushevska, Communication Expert at the EU4EMBLAS project. “The sea is different at different depths. And the Black Sea is unique, rich in life. For example, bacteria that live at its bottom do not require oxygen – to pull them out and study them would have been a contribution to the world’s science.”

Ukraine has given R/V Belgica not only a new home, but also a new name. Now, the vessel is called “Borys Aleksandrov” after a prominent Ukrainian scientist and marine research, who headed the Institute of Marine Biology under the NAS of Ukraine in 2014-2019.

“What other name could we give to this vessel?” says Halyna Minicheva, the current head of the Institute. “Borys Aleksandrov dedicated many years to the marine science and research. He was a world-known expert, an incredible person with a subtle, Odesa-type sense of humour and love for his native city and his country.”

The future work of the vessel will help acquire new scientific knowledge about the Black Sea and will also raise awareness about environmental problems of this and other European Seas, believes H.E. Ambassador Matti Maasikas, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

“Like Ukraine, two EU Member states – Bulgaria and Romania – border the Black Sea,” Maasikas said. “This sea connects us, and it is in our shared interests that we ensure its environmental condition is expertly monitored. The EU is pleased to be able to help Ukraine in this endeavour.”

“RV Belgica’s laboratories onboard provided legendary service for maritime research science of Belgium,” says Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium Alex Lenaerts. “I’m happy that it will now serve for the benefit of Ukrainian researchers in the environmental monitoring of the Black and Azov Seas from.”

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