The vessel sails under Belgian flag and the harbor of registry is Ostend. The RV Simon Stevin mainly performs one-day journeys, but multiple-day voyages can be scheduled as well.
The Simon Stevin serves a broad scale of marine scientific research. In Flanders, marine research is performed at universities and public scientific institutes. The research is multidisciplinary reaching from physical oceanography, fisheries research, marine biology, microbiology, chemistry, technology, archeology to geography, geophysics and geology.
The ship corresponds to the needs of multiple marine research areas; it is equipped with all standard sampling equipment and with high technological hydro-acoustic devices that allow current measurements (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) and characterization of the bottom (multibeam). A highly accurate positioning of the vessel is assured by the dynamic positioning- and steering system. A diesel-electric propulsion allows sailing as a ‘silent ship’, an optimal condition for the hydro-acoustic measurements.[3]
The construction of the RV Simon Stevin was funded by the Flemish Government. VLOOT dab is the owner and operator (Flemish Government) and the Flanders Marine Institute, VLIZ, is responsible for the scientific program and the management of the sampling equipment.[4]
The ship is named after the Flemish mathematician, physicist and military engineer Simon Stevin.