Belgium
The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) cooperates with Belgium in one project, in which the Dutch East Indiaman ‘t Vliegent Hert is monitored and protected in cooperation with the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and the Flanders Heritage Agency (VIOE).
't Vliegent Hert
The Dutch East Indiaman ‘t Vliegent Hert wrecked shortly after leaving Zeeland for Batavia (Indonesia) in February 1735. In 2018, a monitoring survey on ‘t Vliegent Hert was executed after multibeam recordings showed that parts of the shipwreck were exposed. As a response to this survey, a diving expedition was carried out by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), the Flanders Heritage Agency (VIOE) and the RCE from the research vessel RV Simon Stevin.
Although the visibility underwater was zero, the team confirmed that parts of the shipwreck (ship timber, bricks and concretions containing metal objects) were exposed and that the wood is being threatened as it is slowly eaten away by shipworm (Teredo navalis). RCE, together with partner VLIZ, endeavours to take several measures of protection on the wreck in 2022.