Navigating the Future: the New Polarstern Research Vessel
In December 2024, TKMS secured the contract to develop, design, and build this highly advanced icebreaking research vessel. Delivery of the fully tested Polarstern is set for June 2030, marking a milestone in maritime innovation.
The new Polarstern is set to become a groundbreaking vessel - a cutting-edge multidisciplinary research platform and trailblazer, enabling access to the “Last Ice Areas” of the Arctic and the southern Weddell Sea in Antarctica while setting the benchmark for sustainability with powerful emission reduction standards. Stretching nearly 160 meters in length and 27 meters in width, it provides ample space for up to 60 researchers and 50 crew members.
Commissioned by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Germany, TKMS is building this innovative polar research and resupply ship to succeed the current Polarstern. This new vessel will serve as a vital lifeline to the Arctic and Antarctic, embodying sustainability and innovation at the highest level. It provides the continuation of world-class research, delivering powerful new insights that will drive global efforts to protect our oceans and polar regions.
Capabilities
The new Polarstern sets a new benchmark with an optimized hull design that masterfully combines icebreaking strength and advanced research capabilities, all while maintaining excellent seakeeping performance. Engineered to the highest sustainability standards, she dramatically reduces emissions and maximizes energy efficiency. Two of the cutting-edge generator-sets feature dual-fuel technology, ensuring a future-proof, sustainable power supply.
Polarstern advancing emission-free research by integrating a sophisticated battery system, that enables emission-free operations at sea.
Polarstern’s successor carries the Blue Angel certification for eco-friendly ship design underscoring its commitment to environmental responsibility.
Exceptional low-noise, low-emission research in the most challenging polar environments
Equipped with two state-of-the-art azimuth thrusters from Steerprop, Polarstern boasts rotatable propeller nacelles built to ice class PC2 standards.
These SP160 PULL ARC LM thrusters are among the most substantial mechanical units of their kind, each 9 megawatts of power through.
a propeller with a diameter of 4.8 meters.
Their full 360-degree rotation ensures maneuverability. Complementing this setup is a center propeller from Finnish manufacturer Aker Arctic featuring a 5.4 -meter stainless steel blade, completing a system designed for continuous performance.
Driven by powerhouse propulsion
At the heart of Polarstern lie four Wärtsilä main engines generating an impressive 33.1 megawatts of diesel-electric power. Two of these engines are dual-fuel capable, running on both diesel and methanol, embodying a hybrid electric propulsion system that merges peak efficiency with cutting-edge environmental technology. This system complies with the stringent acoustic standards of the ICES 209 directive, minimizing underwater noise impact. Double-elastic mounting of the generator sets further reduces noise emissions to an absolute minimum.
An advanced 12.4 MWh battery system empowers Polarstern to operate silently and emission-free for up to four hours, enabling groundbreaking research without compromise.
Precision-engineered, never off-the-shelf
Polarstern’s exhaust gas aftertreatment system meets the highest emission standards through innovative diesel particle filters and catalytic converters. Utilizing the latest technology, the ship filters exhaust gases rigorously to minimize environmental impact. As the first customer to deploy diesel particle filters of this scale, Polarstern leads the way in sustainable maritime innovation. This comprehensive approach ensures that every voyage sets new standards in environmental responsibility.
