Natural corrosion that needs to be repaired
Built in 1896, the Belem is the last three-masted steel-hulled barque under the French flag. Put at the disposal of the Belem Foundation, she is managed by the company Vships France in Nantes. Maintained over the years by its successive owners, the natural corrosion of its steel hull nevertheless obliges the foundation and its partners to carry out a major repair project, as Christelle Hug de Larauze, General Delegate of the Caisse d'Epargne Belem Foundation, explains: "It's extraordinary that this yacht is still sailing. She is the last survivor of her generation. On the one hand because it is robust, but also because it has been taken care of. It is a recognized historical monument. But we have reached the end of a cycle. Bureau Veritas certified the conformity of the ship and authorized us to use it. Today, the steel hull is too corroded, which leads to a loss of thickness. If this loss of thickness exceeds 20%, work must be undertaken
Belem is going to be placed on raisable tents since the work will be done from under the hull. We will have to remove all the equipment: generators, engines, ventilation... then cut all the "> The engine hold has suffered a double erosion. The first one by the internal corrosion of the waste water, the Belem not being equipped with a waste water recovery tank. The second, external by sea water. If the wear is natural, it must nevertheless be repaired.
The boat will be scanned by a design office to be able to reconstitute the block as faithfully as possible. The block will then be welded and everything will have to be rewired identically."> A custom-made reconstruction
