With the “Uthörn”, the Alfred Wegener Institute wants to set a “milestone in the direction of a sustainable infrastructure for marine research”: The new research ship is powered by a particularly environmentally friendly methanol drive. It is said to be the only seagoing vessel of this type in the world.
Germany’s first research ship to run on green methanol was christened by Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger in Berne near Bremen. According to the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), the Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, it is the world’s first seagoing vessel of this type. “As a fuel, methanol has so far been an experiment,” said Stark-Watzinger. “That’s why today it is such an important step on the way to clean shipping.” The “Uthörn” sets standards “as the first German seagoing ship with a methanol drive”. AWI director Antje Boetius also spoke of a “milestone towards a sustainable infrastructure for marine research”.
The construction of the 35 meter long cutter cost 14.45 million euros and took two years. It was fully funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, according to AWI Administrative Director Karsten Wurr.
As with its predecessor of the same name, AWI researchers are to sail the North Sea on the “Uthörn” and investigate how the sea has changed. In doing so, they repeatedly record the physical, chemical and biological condition of the sea at the same points. In this way, a valuable series of measurements were created, which the researchers used to determine the smallest changes in the environment. “We can do research in wind farms, we can survey the ground, above all we can travel far to neighboring countries and actually help our colleagues,” said Karen Wiltshire, deputy director of the AWI, about the multifunctional ship.
In addition to coastal research, the “Uthörn” will also sail the North Sea with students so that they can learn how to use heavy research equipment. The AWI is also planning to build a pilot plant for the production of green methanol in Bremerhaven. This means that sustainable fuel could be produced right on our doorstep in the future.
