de:Polarstern (Schiff)

PFS Polarstern is a German research icebreaker. The Polarstern was put into commission in 1982 and is mainly used for research in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Polarstern was build by the Howaldtswerke/Deutsche Werft at Kiel and the Werft Nobiskrug at Rendsburg. The ship has a length of 118 meters.

Polarstern is owned by the Alfred-Wegener-Institut in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Polarstern is a double-hulled icebreaker. It is operational at temperatures as low as -50 °C. Polarstern can break through ice 1.5 metres thick at a speed of 5 knots. Thicker ice must be broken by ramming.

External link

• Current position of the Polarstern (http://e-net.awi-bremerhaven.de/MET/Polarstern/psobse.html)