Research vessel Polarstern

The German icebreaker Polarstern trapped in the sea ice in the Arctic Ocean.

More than 300 Arctic and Antarctic expeditions

The German research vessel and icebreaker Polarstern (meaning "polar star") was first commissioned in 1982. Since then, the ship has completed more than 300 expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. Specially designed for working in polar seas, Polarstern is still one of the most sophisticated polar research and supply vessels in the world. And although it has been in service for more than 40 years, it can still fully perform its operational duties thanks to the modern technology on board.

In the autumn of 2019, Polarstern embarked on the MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) expedition, the greatest Arctic expedition in history: for over a year the research icebreaker drifted across the Arctic Ocean, trapped in the sea ice. Almost 450 experts from 20 countries researched the Arctic during the course of the year and investigated the effects of climate change.

The ship is equipped for research in the areas of biology, geology, geophysics, glaciology, chemistry, oceanography and meteorology. It has nine research laboratories and can be equipped with additional laboratory containers.

Organisational details

This research vessel is operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven. It is owned by the Federal Government, represented by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Facts and figures

Max. 44 crew and 55 scientific staff

Daily cost of operation: 70,000 euros

Approx. 305 days a year at sea

Research activities

Scientists on board Polarstern conduct

Polar research
Earth research
Marine research
Climate research

Budget

The Alfred Wegener Institute, which operates Polarstern, has a budget of 203 million euros (2022).

Because the AWI belongs to the Helmholtz Association, 90 per cent of the programme-oriented funding (147million euros) comes from federal funds, while the rest is provided by four German states (Länder).

Alfred Wegener Institute

Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research

Am Handelshafen 12
27570 Bremerhaven

+49 471 4831-0

www.awi.de/en