RV Sonne

RV Sonne is Germany’s primary research vessel for deep-sea exploration and operations in the Pacific and Indian oceans. The vessel is operated by German Research Fleet Coordination Centre (Leitstelle Deutsche Forschungsschiffe) and entered service in 2014.

At approximately 116 m in length, RV Sonne is specifically designed for deep-ocean research. Its technical infrastructure supports disciplines such as marine geology and geophysics, deep-sea biology, physical oceanography, and marine resource research. The ship is equipped with powerful winches, A-frames, and cranes capable of deploying heavy equipment and deep-sea systems including remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and large coring devices.

The vessel can accommodate roughly 40 scientists in addition to a crew of around 30. Extensive laboratories, large working decks, and long-range endurance make RV Sonne a key platform for international deep-sea expeditions and interdisciplinary ocean research.