Docked at Walvis Bay: Discovering ice worlds on the mighty Polarstern

The German icebreaker Polarstern spent the past weekend in the port of Walvis Bay, following a training voyage from its home port of Bremerhaven. The German embassy in Namibia hosted a tour for journalists and invited guests, offering a glimpse into life and work on one of the world’s leading polar research vessels.During the one-month training voyage, workshops combined practical fieldwork with sessions on philosophy and science communication. “Not every country has a large ship, not every country can train people on board,” said Prof. Dr Karen Wiltshire, the scientific leader of the vessel, highlighting that researchers from around the globe participated. She also stressed that clear communication between scientists and the public is crucial to understanding climate change.Wiltshire also highlighted the crucial work undertaken by the vessel's crew. Those travelling on the Polarstern collect vast amounts of environmental data that feed into climate research. “Every second breath we take comes from the ocean,” she said. "If we destroy the ocean, we destroy every second breath we take.”She urged citizens to stop seeing themselves as separate from the Earth and to recognise their role in the global ecosystem.Voyage at seaCrew members highlighted practical features that make life and work at sea easier. These include different colours on each deck for orientation, as well as a permanent medical team with a doctor and a nurse.Built to operate in heavy sea ice, the Polarstern can break ice up to one and a half metres thick with its double-walled steel hull and 20,000 horsepower. The ship can withstand temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius and also supplies polar stations. After its stay in Walvis Bay, the Polarstern was scheduled to continue on Monday to the Antarctic Neumayer Station III to deliver equipment and supplies.The Polarstern is the flagship of the Alfred Wegener Institute. Commissioned in 1982, it has been operating in polar waters for decades. The vessel houses nine laboratories, where scientists study ocean systems, ice dynamics, weather and climate. On average, the Polarstern covers around 50 000 nautical miles each year and spends roughly 305 days at sea. According to Wiltshire, operating the ship costs about 100 000 euros per day, or roughly N$2 million.Plans are already underway for a new, more sustainable Polarstern, expected to enter service around 2030. In the meantime, the current vessel will continue training young scientists and making a vital contribution to long-term climate monitoring.

Docked at Walvis Bay: Discovering ice worlds on the mighty Polarstern

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-17

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Docked at Walvis Bay: Discovering ice worlds on the mighty Polarstern

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-17

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