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PS 123 - Weekly Report No. 4 | 11. – 17.01.2021
North of the Roaring Forties - approaching Atka Bay
The expedition continues to work according to plan. A fact that is probably not very exciting for readers, thus, for us very enjoyable. The Roaring Forties were more like Wavy Forties, as the announced low-pressure area arriving from west brought less extreme wind speeds but instead a rather unpleasant wave. The thermometer dropped by more than 10 ° C within one day and finally down to the current 0 ° C.
PS123 - Weekly Report No. 3 | 04. - 10.01.2021
South of the Equator – North of the Roaring Forties
We continue the voyage according to the plan. We received the result of the third smear test for CoV-2 that we sent from Las Palmas to Bremerhaven. They were all negative, Antarctica here we come! We will probably arrive within short time.
PS123 - Weekly Report No. 2 | 28.12.2020 - 03.01.2021
Crossing the Equator
After we had sent the 3rd CoV-2 swab from Las Palmas to Bremerhaven, Polarstern continues its journey southwards. The weather is increasingly summerly. Near the Canary Islands, the thermometer already shows 18 ° C, we pass the Cape Verde Islands at 26 ° C, a cloudless sky and a gentle swell of 2 meters from the north. The hard-earned “sea legs” can rest for now, it could really be worse.
Where is polarstern?
Figures and facts
| Port of registry | Bremerhaven |
|---|---|
| Length | 118 metres |
| Width | 25 metres |
| Max. draught | 11.20 metres |
| Max. displacement | 17,277 tons |
| Empty weight | 12,012 tons |
| Commissioning AWI | 1982 |
| Engine | 4 x KHD RBV 8M540 |
| Engine power | 19,198 PS (four engines) |
| Range | 19,000 nautical miles / 80 days |
| Max. speed | 16 knots |
| Operation area | Everywhere including pack ice zone |
| Crew | 44 |
| Days on sea per year (2013) | 310 |
| Shipyard | Nobiskrug, Rendsburg and Howaldswerke - Deutsche Werft Kiel AG, Germany |
| Scientists per day / long term sailing | none / 53 |
More Information
Polarstern is not only a research vessel but also a gigantic measuring instrument. Data are constantly collected aboard, some of them are also sent consecutively to different receivers. Further information about Polarstern can be found on the following pages:
AWI
Cruise Reports (data overview)
Extern