Research Vessels - PROFESSOR ALBRECHT PENCK

"Despite her small size, the Penck offers plenty of lab space. A lot of science on a little ship: that requires a high level of co-ordination and co-operation between scientists and nautical crew, creating an amicable atmosphere aboard. Under these conditions, work is a lot more fun and a lot less complicated than aboard the bigger ships."

- PD Dr. Maren Voß, Marine biologist at the IOW

The research vessel PROFESSOR ALBRECHT PENCK  has an eventful history. It was built in 1951 as part of a programme designed to meet reparation claims of the Soviet Union. However, the PENCK ultimately remained property of the GDR and became fist research vessel of the newly founded Marine Hydrographical Service. Until 1960, it served as a surveying ship under the name of JOH. L. KRUEGER. When it was handed over to the GDR Academy of Sciences, its name finally changed to PROFESSOR ALBRECHT PENCK.

After the reunification, the federal state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern became new owner of the PENCK. Since 1992, the ship has been at disposal of the Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research. While during GDR times, the PENCK went on expeditions to Spitsbergen and the Atlantic Ocean, today it usually cruises the western Baltic Sea. 11 scientists can live and work aboard the ship, which is equipped with four laboratories, winches and an outrigger.