News
Expedition
Polarstern departs for the Arctic
On the evening of 10 August 2019, the research ship Polarstern will leave her homeport in Bremerhaven. The purpose of the expedition is to conduct studies at a major long-term monitoring station in the Arctic: the AWI’s Hausgarten observatory in the Fram Strait.
PS120 - Weekly Report No. 4 | 23 - 27 June 2019
The Scent of the Ocean
Over the past few days, one could smell a scent of ocean, again. It is also interesting that as one get closer to the European shelf on board a ship, one notices that the water is no longer has the hue of the deep ocean blue or the shimmering turquoise of tropical waters. The waters are less clear and they have the same gleam as dark green glass.
Expedition
Antarctic season ends this weekend
After half a year in the Southern Hemisphere, the research icebreaker Polarstern will soon return to her homeport, Bremerhaven. Following a season of work focusing on sea ice, the icebreaker will now be prepared for her next challenge: the greatest Arctic research expedition of all time, which will begin this September.
Blog
Polarstern-Blog
Women in Ocean Science
By Ximena Aguilar, Juan Pardo, Emmanuel Brempong and Merissa Naidoo | “No woman should say, ‘I am but a woman!’ But a woman! What more can you ask to be?” In the words of the pioneer astronomer and feminist- Maria Mitchell, simply being a woman is enough. From the shore to the depths of the […]
Author: Polarstern Fahrtleiter
Polarstern-Blog
Learning and teaching while crossing the Atlantic Ocean
By Mara Gomes, MARE FCiencias, University of Lisbon (Portugal) | Marine phytoplankton, the floating microalgae of our oceans, plays an important role in the Earth system. On one hand they are the main primary producers in our oceans and on the other hand critically influencing the biogeochemical fluxes in the marine environment. This pivotal role […]
Author: Polarstern Fahrtleiter
Polarstern-Blog
Thrown into the Deep End
By Amabelle Go, Sian Seymour, Stacy Ballyram, Yoania Perez, Ahmad Mohamed | One of the core modules for this expedition is the Oceanography module. This is where we get the opportunity to gain some hands-on experience using different oceanographic instruments as well as analysing the data we record. There was no time for rest and […]
Author: Polarstern Fahrtleiter
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