The three masted barque Belem was built at Chantenay sur Loire, near Nantes and put to sea in 1896.
Burden : 531 tons
Overall length : 58 m
Length at waterline : 48 m
Width at midslip beam : 8.80m
Draught : 3.60m
Made of riveted steel plate
Length excluding bowsprit : 51 m
Two-part steel masts (bottom mast, top)
Length of mainmast above waterline : 34 m
Number of sails : 22 (square sails and staysails)
220 belaying pins for standard handling
250 single, double and triple blocks
2 Diesel Fiat-Iveco engines, 300 HP each
2 axle lines, 2 four-bladed propellers
3 generators
Diesel reserves : 40 tons. Autonomy : 24 days at 7 knots i.e. 4.000 nautical miles
Unsalted water stock : 20 tons. 3 tons a day produced on board by osmosis
Electric windlass and 3 deck capstans (windlasses)
Maximum engine speed by calm : 9 knots
Can beat up to 75° windward
Time needed to trice up sail in flat weather : 30 to 40 min
Time needed to take in sail in flat weather : 50 to 60 min
Time needed for complete go about : 15 to 20 min, depending on prevailing winds