Marine research: Construction of the "Meteor IV" has reached a milestone

The construction of the German research vessel "Meteor IV" for the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has reached an important milestone: Following the successful undocking at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, the ship was transferred to the Fassmer shipyard in Berne, where the final outfitting has begun.

The construction in Rostock and Papenburg is now complete. The project is being realised by Meyer Werft in cooperation with the Fassmer shipyard in Lower Saxony on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Fassmer brings extensive experience in special shipbuilding, while Meyer Werft has expanded its expertise through the construction of the research vessel "Sonne".

Ship size and tasks

The new research vessel named "Meteor IV" is the fourth in its series. With a length of 125 metres and a volume of around 10,000 GT, it offers space for 35 scientists and 36 members of the nautical and technical crew. Designed for global research operations, it will focus in particular on the Atlantic.

It will contribute to international marine research, particularly in the areas of climate and environmental research. Completion is planned for 2026 and the ship will replace the existing "Meteor" and the decommissioned "Poseidon".

Predecessors of the "Meteor IV"

Its predecessors were the "Meteor I", which was commissioned in 1924 and handed over as reparations after the end of the Second World War, and the "Meteor II", which was operated by the German Hydrographic Institute (DHI) from 1964 to 1985.

The "Meteor III", which is currently still in service, was launched in 1985 at the Schlichting shipyard in Travemünde. It enables scientists from universities and other research institutions of the German states and the federal government to carry out basic research and is constantly being modernised.

The German research fleet

In addition to the "Meteor", there are several research vessels flying the German flag, including the "Polarstern""Sonne", "Maria S. Merian", "Alkor", "Heincke" and "Elisabeth Mann Borgese". These specialised vessels were developed for marine research and are equipped for investigations in the fields of biology, geology, geophysics, glaciology, geochemistry, oceanography and meteorology. Their areas of application are just as diverse as marine research itself.