RV Polarstern

RV Polarstern is Germany’s flagship polar research vessel and one of the world’s most capable icebreaking platforms for multidisciplinary research in the Arctic and Antarctic. Operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), the vessel has been in service since 1982 and supports international scientific expeditions across polar oceans.

Designed specifically for work in sea ice, the 118-m-long research icebreaker features a reinforced double-hull and approximately 20,000 hp of propulsion power, enabling it to break through ice up to about 1.5 m thick and operate safely in harsh polar conditions down to −50 °C. The ship typically spends the austral summer season (November–March) in the Southern Ocean and the boreal summer season in the Arctic, supporting long expeditions that can last several weeks to months.

On board, Polarstern accommodates up to around 50–55 scientists alongside a crew of about 40–44. The vessel hosts a wide range of laboratories and technical facilities that support research in oceanography, marine biology, geology, geophysics, glaciology, atmospheric science, and environmental chemistry. Its extensive deck equipment, helicopters, and small boats enable sampling and field operations in remote ice-covered environments.