
By: Staff Reporter
A German research vessel, Polarstern, departed from Walvis Bay for Antarctica on Monday.
The vessel, which embarked on its research journey on 13 November from Bremerhaven, in Germany, is studying, among other aspects, how the ocean has changed. It docked at the coastal town on Friday and invited representatives from the German Embassy, including the ambassador to Namibia, Dr Thorsten Hutter, as well as Namibian journalists and guests, for a visit on the ship.
According to a media statement issued by the German embassy, the vessel facilitates cutting-edge research in various fields, ranging from biology and chemistry to oceanography, as well as geology, geophysics, and meteorology.
The vessel was inaugurated in 1982 and remains one of the most modern polar research vessels at sea, enabling scientific research around the world and completing the equivalent of several circumnavigations of the Earth each year.
According to the cruise leader, Prof. Dr Karen Wiltshire, a climate and marine scientist, the vessel carries 31 scientists from 24 countries, as well as 11 teachers.
She said the research focuses on the different layers of water in the ocean and how the ocean is changing.
From Walvis Bay, she said, the next leg of the voyage is Antarctica, where the team will carry out similar research they conducted from Bremerhaven, including taking numerous samples, studying fish populations, and assessing whether they have changed.
Speaking at the event, Hutter said the research team is the best example of what Germany stands for, namely research and cooperation with others around the globe. “What you do is not relevant to Germany alone; it is relevant to all of us. This is a unique and outstanding research environment, making it one of the adventures scientists can undertake,” remarked Hutter.
The vessel also holds a special place in the hearts of many crew members, technicians, and scientists from around the world, as it serves as their second home for several months at a time.