On June 25, Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium christened the oceanographic research vessel RV Belgica in Ghent. RV Belgica will play a key role in Belgian and European marine research in the coming decades. The research vessel Belgica will be owned by the Belgian State represented by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO). The home port is the naval base in Zeebrugge. The Princess wore a new tuxedo bodycon midi dress by Reiss.