Half a billion euros for "Polarstern II"

The "Polarstern I" is to be replaced in 2027.

The Bundestag has cleared the way for the construction of the research vessel "Polarstern II", which has been particularly eagerly awaited by the German shipbuilding industry. The Budget Committee approved additional funds so that the major project, which is important for climate protection research, can be put out to tender. The new ship is due to replace the ageing "Polarstern" in 2027. The ship drifted in the ice around the North Pole for a year in 2019/20 while scientists from many countries researched the effects of climate change.

German shipyards have been waiting years for the lucrative order for the "Polarstern II". However, the order has to be put out to tender across Europe. Planning for the newbuild has been underway since 2012, but a first attempt to award the contract was cancelled in 2020. At that time, the price was rumoured to be around 500 million euros. Since then, the requirements for the operational capability and environmental friendliness of the research icebreaker have been extended once again, meaning that the ship is likely to be significantly more expensive.

The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven, as the operator of the ship, is formulating the call for tenders; the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is responsible.

Source: ntv.de, mba/dpa