Belem (ship) - Current Specifications of The Belem

Current Specifications of The Belem

406 tons and 51 m of length.

• Riveted steel keel (for older parts).
• Iron sheet : 11 mm.
• Ballast in hull : 4,500 pig irons of 50 kg each.
• Hull length without bowsprit : 51 m.
• Bowsprit length : 7 m.
• Extreme length: 58 m.
• Waterline length : 48 m.
• Midship width: 8.80 m.
• Moulded depth: 4.60 m.
• Draught : 3.60 m.
• B.R.T. : 534 tons.
• Displacement : 750 tons.

Masting - Rigging

• Steel masts in 2 parts (lower mast, topmast).
• Main mast height above waterline level : 34 m.
• Lower yards in steel, top gallant and royal yards in wood.
• About 220 points of running-rigging.
• About 250 simple-blocks, double-blocks and triple-blocks.
• 4500 m of running-rigging in polyamid rope.

Sails

• Number of sails : 22.
• Sail area : 1000,5 m² (all above, without storm sail).

Propulsion and equipment

• Driven by 2 diesel motors: Fiat-Iveco, 300 HP each (installed at the beginning of the '70 by the Cantieri Navali e Officine Meccaniche of Venice), 1500 rpm at full throttle.
• Reducer-inverters : Masson 1/6.
• 2 propeller shafts, 2 four-blade propellers.
• 3 generators.
• Diesel storage : 40 tons.
• Cruising range : 24 days at 7 knots, about 4 000 nautical miles (7400 km).
• Fresh water storage : 20 tons.
• Production of about 3 tons/day par diolyzer.
• Electric windlass.
• 3 hydraulic capstans (two small on the bridge, one of each side, used to hoist upper yards, but never used during traineeships, one large on the poop, in front of the mizzen mast, used to heave tight hawsers during mooring operations).

Performances

• Maximum speed with engine on flat calm sea: 8 to 9 knots.
• Maximum speed with sails: 11 to 12 knots.
• 75° abeam wind capability.
• Duration to set all sails by good weather conditions : 30 to 40 mn.
• Duration to heave tight all sails by good weather conditions: 50 to 60 mn.
• Duration of a complete tacking : 15 to 20 mn depending on wind conditions.

Crewmen

• 16 men: - 1 captain, - 1 chief officer, - 2 lieutenants, - 1 chief engineer, - 2 cooks, - 1 boatswain, - 1 carpenter, - 7 yardmen (two from the French National Service until 2000).
• Personal management by la Société Nantaise de Navigation.
• Maximum number of trainees: 48 (two watches of 24, divided in third of 16).