The Belem is a historic three-masted barque originating from France, notable for its extensive maritime history and classic sailing rig. Constructed with a length of approximately 51 meters and a tonnage of 406 tons, she exemplifies traditional sailing craftsmanship. The vessel is equipped with a full rigging of sails suitable for a barque, which includes multiple masts and a complex array of rigging and sails that enable her to perform as a traditional sailing ship. Launched in 1896, Belem's maiden voyage involved transporting sugar from the West Indies, as well as cocoa and coffee from Brazil and French Guiana, to Nantes, France. She is renowned for surviving the eruption of Mount Pelée in Saint-Pierre, Martinique, on 8 May 1902. During this event, Captain Julien Chauvelon skillfully anchored her further from the volcano to evade the ash and pyroclastic flows, providing her with shelter during the eruption. In 1914, Belem was sold to Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster, who converted her into his private pleasure yacht. She was fitted with two auxiliary Bolinder Diesel engines of 300 HP each, blending traditional sailing with motorized capability. In 1922, Sir Ernest Guinness acquired her, renaming her Fantôme II and re-rigging her from a square-rigged vessel to a barkentine. Guinness used her for a global cruise in 1923, which included navigating the Panama and Suez Canals and visiting Spitsbergen, during which she narrowly escaped damage from an earthquake in Yokohama. Later, in 1951, she was sold to Vittorio Cini and renamed Giorgio Cini. She served as a sail training ship until 1965, after which she was moored in Venice. Attempts to restore her rigging to her original barque configuration culminated in her being re-rigged as a barque in 1976. Fully restored by 1979, she returned to France and resumed her role as a sail training vessel. Recently, she gained prominence by carrying the Olympic flame for the 2024 Summer Olympics torch relay and serves as the flagship of Hanse Sail in August 2025. The Belem remains a significant symbol of maritime heritage, blending historic design with modern ceremonial roles.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.