RV Maria S. Merian

RV Maria S. Merian is a modern multidisciplinary research vessel operated by the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) on behalf of the German Research Fleet Coordination Centre. Commissioned in 2006, the vessel supports international marine research projects primarily in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas.

The 95-m-long vessel is equipped for a wide range of oceanographic disciplines including physical oceanography, marine geology and geophysics, marine biology, and chemical oceanography. Extensive deck space, heavy-duty winches, and advanced positioning systems allow the deployment of large scientific equipment such as sediment corers, moorings, remotely operated vehicles, and geophysical survey systems.

RV Maria S. Merian accommodates around 22 scientists in addition to a crew of roughly 20. Multiple onboard laboratories and flexible container laboratory spaces allow the ship to support complex multidisciplinary expeditions lasting several weeks, providing researchers with a stable and well-equipped platform for open-ocean research.