M916 Bellis

M916 "Bellis" is a Tripartite class minehunter of the Belgian Naval Component, launched on August 13, 1986 at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde and christened by Ellen Goffinet-Rosman, the wife of the then Mayor of Arlon, on September 18, 1986. The patronage of the M916 Bellis was accepted by the city of Arlon. It was the second of the Belgian Tripartite class minehunters. This ship was the very vessel that participated the rescue of the Herald of Free Enterprise in 1987.

It is currently commanded by Lieutenant First Class Luc Desanghere.

The Bellis paid a courtesy visit to Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, in September 2008; some pictures of it can be seen here: http://toothecrossroads.blogspot.com/2008/09/grey-day-on-tyneside.html