Mercator

The Barquentin Mercator was built as a training ship for the Belgian merchant fleet. It was named at the time after the Belgian cartographer Gerardus Mercator. It was built in Leith, Scotland in 1932. It was used in training, in addition to its participation in international events and specialized exhibitions. In sailing, and in 1961 it was converted to become the first floating museum of its kind in Belgium, and it has been located in the port of Ostend since 1964.