Organization of Research Vessels
The operational planning of approved cruises for the different vessels is the responsibility of various bodies.
German Research Vessels Portal
This portal provides a platform for scientists working at publicly funded research institutions (universities, institutions of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, institutions of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Scientific Association, institutes of the Max Planck Society, and subordinate federal authorities) to submit cruise proposals for the research vessels POLARSTERN, METEOR, SONNE, MARIA S. MERIAN, POSEIDON, ALKOR, and HEINCKE.
Control Station German Research Vessels
The Control Station German Research Vessels, operated by the Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) at Hamburg University, is responsible for the scientific, technical, logistical and financial planning, execution and support of RV METEOR and MARIA S. MERIAN. Starting 2015, the insets of the new RV SONNE will be coordinated from Hamburg. These large vessels perform open ocean research on a global scale and in international cooperation. The Control Station collaborates with the expedition coordinators and chief scientists, and works in partnership with the contract ship operators. Contractual obligations exist to the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as owners and funding agencies. In addition, there is a contract with the German Weather Service regarding the Weather Station METEOR.
Senate Commission for Oceanography of the German Research Foundation (DFG)
The Senate Commission for Oceanography evaluates proposals for expeditions with RV METEOR und MARIA S. MERIAN and decides on the vessels’ itineraries in cooperation with the Control Station German Research Vessels at Hamburg University. Starting 2015, the insets of the new ''RV Sonne'' will be coordinated from Hamburg.
Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
The Alfred Wegener Institute operates the ice-breaker RV POLARSTERN. Proposals for ship time are evaluated by an advisory board, considering the scientific quality and feasibility of the implementation on board this ship.
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) / Project Management Jülich
BMBF provides ship time and funding for projects on board RV SONNE which primarily operates in the Pacific Ocean. An Advisory Board appointed by BMBF evaluates proposals for ship time. Based on their ranking and considering science-political priorities, the vessels schedule is organized by Project Management Jülich in behalf of BMBF.
Control Group for the Medium-Sized Research Vessels
The Control Group for the Medium-Sized Research Vessels, located at the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Warnemünde, evaluates proposals and schedules expeditions with the regional vessels RV ALKOR, RV POSEIDON (operated by GEOMAR), RV HEINCKE (operated by AWI).
Large Research Vessels
Main area of operation: global, polar seas
Cruise planning: Alfred Wegener Institut for Polar and Ocean Science
Main area of operation: global, oceans (ice-free)
Cruise planning: German Research Foundation (DFG)
Main area of operation: global, oceans (ice-free)
Cruise planning: Project Management Jülich (PtJ)
Medium-sized research Vessels
Main area of operation: North Atlantic, Norwegian Sea, Mediterranean Sea
Cruise planning: German Research Foundation (DFG)
Main area of operation: North Atlantic
Cruise planning: Control Group for the Medium-Sized Research Vessels
Main area of operation: Europäische Schelfmeere
Cruise planning: Control Group for the Medium-Sized Research Vessels
Main area of operation: global, oceans (ice-free)
Cruise planning: Control Group for the Medium-Sized Research Vessels
Small Research Vessels
Main area of operation: Baltic Sea
Main area of operation: Baltic Sea
Main area of operation: coastal waters
Main area of operation: coastal waters
Main area of operation: coastal waters
Vessels of Federal Research Agencies
Thünen Institute as a Federal Research Institute operates three vessels for fishery research.
Main area of operation: Areas of inshore fishery at the south-west Baltic Sea, partly North Sea
Main area of operation: Areas of small offshore fishery (Baltic Sea, North Sea)
Main area of operation: Areas of large offshore fishery (Baltic Sea, North Sea, North Atlantic)