RV Belgica (1884)

Belgica trapped in the ice, 1898
History
Name:	Patria (1884–96) Belgica (1896–1916) Isfjord (1916–17) Belgica (1917–40)
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 (1916–17) Kristian Holst (1917–40) Franco-British Expeditionary Force (1940)
Operator:	Johan Christian Jakobsen (1884–96) Adrien de Gerlache (1896–97) Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897–99) Adrien de Gerlache (1899–1902) N C Halvorsen (1902) Prince Philippe, Duke of Orléans (1902–1916) Det Norske Kulsyndikat (1916–17) Kristian Holst (1917–40) Franco-British Expeditionary Force (1940)
Port of registry:	Svelvik (1884–96) Antwerp (1896–1916) Spitsbergen (1916–17) Harstad (1917–40)
Builder:	Christian Brinch Jørgensen
Launched:	1884
Out of service:	19 May 1940
Fate:	Scuttled
General characteristics
Class and type:	Whaler (1884–96) Research ship (1896–1901) Whaler (1901–04) Research ship (1904–09) Whaler (1909–18) Factory ship (1918–40) Depôt ship (1940)
Tonnage:	263 GRT
Length:	35.97 m (118 ft 0 in)
Beam:	7.62 m (25 ft 0 in)
Draught:	4.11 m (13 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	Sails, steam engine
Sail plan:	Barque (1884–1918)
Complement:	23 (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 1907–09.

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 2007, plans to build a modern replica of Belgica were announced.

The ship was 35.97 metres (118 ft 0 in) long, with a beam of 7.62 metres (25 ft 0 in) and a draught of 4.11 metres (13 ft 6 in). She was rigged as a barque. As well as sails, the ship was propelled by a 35 horsepower (26 kW) steam engine built by Nylands Verksted, Oslo. The engine drove a screw propellor that was arranged so that could be raised out of the water if necessary.

Patria was built by Christian Brinch Jørgensen at Svelvik, Norway. She was built as a whaler. The ship was constructed of Pine, American Pine and Oak ribs, with 110 millimetres (4.3 in) thick Greenheart planks clad in oak and sheeted in Iron. The ship had a strengthened bow to enable her to operate in ice. Her designer and owner was Johan Christian Jakobsen.