???aural:Bildanfang???The Polarstern is a polar research vessel operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). © Hans Oerter/AWI???aural:Bildende???

The Polarstern was first commissioned in 1982. Since then, the ship has completed more than fifty expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. Specially designed for working in the polar seas, the Polarstern is currently the most sophisticated polar research and supply vessel in the world.

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

Facts and Figures

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44 crew,
approx. 50 scientists

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daily cost of operation:
55,000 euro

Organisational Details

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

Research Activities

Scientists on the Polarstern conduct polar, earth, marine and climate research.

Research Budget

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Because the Alfred Wegener Institute, which operates the Polarstern, belongs to the Helmholtz Association, 90% of its annual budget comes from Federal funds, with 10% provided by three German States (“Länder”).