The coast guard keeps an eye on the sea

Coast guard

FAQ & Links

  • How many ship wrecks counts the North Sea?

    Officially 240 wrecks have been located in the Belgian part of the North Sea by the Coast Division of the Agency Maritime Services and Coast. However, there are a lot more wrecks situated in the North Sea , at a rough estimate, some thousands.

    The website of the Flemish Hydrography (www.vlaamsehydrografie.be) contains a wreck database. The Flemish Institute for National Heritage (www.maritieme-archeologie.be) developed a database for maritime heritage, where information on wrecks, items to be found underwater and drowned settlements in Belgian waters can be consulted.

    A number of other websites of projects of interest: 

    • the Wreck site (http://users.pandora.be/tree/wrecksite) contains a lot of information on wrecks in the North Sea , sea charts and pictures
    • the research project BEWREMABI (BElgian WRecks for MArine BIodiversity) studies the biodiversity on and around ship wrecks in Belgian waters
  • What do I do if I want to go diving at sea?

    The procedure for diving at sea can be found in Notices to Mariners nr 11 of 2006 and nr 12 of 2006. These Notices to Mariners can be consulted on the website of the Coastal Division.

    You can order a copy of Notices to Mariners in the post or make an appointment with Coastal Division to come and collect your publications

  • Which watersports at sea require a permit?

    For more information on necessary permits: contact Federal Public Service (FPS) Mobility and Transport – sportdevague@mobilit.fgov.bewww.mobilit.belgium.be