New Belgica

The project was officially launched on 9 September 2007 at De Steenschuit's yard in Boom, Antwerp by Kris Peeters, Minister-President of Flanders.

[1] From 2010 -2013 the project has been supported by the European Regional Development Fund's Echoes2c scheme.

Steenschuits relocated their yard to Noeveren, in a major shipbuilding and brick making area.

Firstly, the planned structural and spatial improvements for the area were stopped.

The competent authorities refused to grant a certificate of seaworthiness to the new vessel demanding expensive and unpractical changes to the ship to bring her up to modern standards.