
Explore the sea on site
Research vessels
A good 70 per cent of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans. That's more than 350 million km² on the surface and a massive 1.3 billion km3 in volume. They play a crucial role in the climate system, are sources of new raw materials, home to a wide variety of creatures and increasingly a site for human activity. To explore the oceans on the ground, research vessels are indispensable.
Marine researchers are tracking down the processes in the oceans with sophisticated technologies: remote-controlled underwater vehicles, mobile seabed drilling equipment or systems anchored on the bottom for long-term recording of chemical and physical data. They are also deployed from research vessels. A modern and efficient research fleet is therefore important to meet the diverse tasks of marine research. See for yourself the diversity of the German research fleet and learn more about the seas on which the ships are deployed.