RV Sonne

The sun in Auckland

Germanischer Lloyd

IMO no. 6909777

The sun is a German research vessel in the RF Forschungsschifffahrt in Bremen. Are coordinated the vessel's operation of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources ( BGR). The ship is traveling in the context of geoscientific projects all oceans, but in recent years, mainly in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean used. The financing of the projects undertaken at the request of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). By the end of 2005, the sun has conducted some 200 expeditions, on which it was primarily used by the marine research-based institutes and universities in Germany.

History

The sun was 1968/1969 built under the hull number 350 as a stern trawler on the Rickmers shipyard in Bremerhaven and delivered to the deep-sea fishing North Sea. In 1977, the RF Reederei Community Forschungsschifffahrt bought the ship.

The sun was converted into a research vessel, since the federal government needed a vessel for marine science research resource. The conversion was carried out in cooperation between the Schichau Lower Weser (1977) and Rickmers- Werft ( 1978).

In 1991, the sun on the Schichau Seebeck Shipyard, reformed and modernized again in Bremerhaven. The ship was lengthened by 10.8 meters, received an additional superstructure deck and a new engine plant. It was carried on concepts of the research program ship of the future, for example, an asymmetric bridge. The cost of the conversion amounted to around 52 million DM addition, the scientific equipment was the renewed for a further 19 million DM.

In May 2011 a new building was commissioned to replace the sun in 2015. On April 12, 2013 took place at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, the keel laying of the new research vessel sun.

Technology

The ship, which can stay up to 50 days continuously at sea is diesel-electric drive. It has two electric drive motors, each with 1,150 kW, which act in tandem to a fixed pitch propeller. In addition, the sun is equipped to improve the maneuverability with a Becker rudder and bow thrusters with 1,115 kW.

To supply the drive motors and the electrical system with electric power, three each 1,600 kW payable main engines with generators connected as well as an auxiliary power unit with an output of 750 kW.

For the research, the ship has several winches and various cranes, including a central crane that can lift up to 15 tons, and the tail boom ( up to 12 t), which is pivotable about 125 °. Furthermore, the vessel for scientific purposes, among others, with sonar and echo-sounding equipment is fitted.

The scientists are on board 18 laboratories and more usable for scientific work rooms. Several specific places on deck permit to carry up to ten 20-foot containers, which can be used as additional labs or as a warehouse for materials of all kinds.

Others

2012, the research vessel of Marum was used to explore the impact of the Tohoku earthquake of 2011 to the seabed.

In the novel The Swarm by Frank Schätzing be carried out from aboard the sun from studies in the Norwegian Sea.