Welcome to the portal for German research vessels. This portal serves as an information platform for researchers who wish to use vessels of the German marine research fleet(interner Link). 

In order to be allocated ship time, a cruise proposal(interner Link) has to be submitted which is subject to scientific quality assurance by the Review Panel German Research Vessels (GPF)(interner Link). Cruise proposals may be submitted either for ship time only, without funding, or in connection with a grant proposal under the DFG Infrastructure Priority Programme SPP 2520 “Research Vessels”(externer Link). Cruise proposals that receive a positive review are then incorporated into the cruise planning pool by the institutions which operate the vessels. 

After the expedition(interner Link) has taken place, a cruise report is prepared. Following analysis of the data and samples, the scientific results are presented no earlier than two years later at the Status Conference Research Vessels(interner Link). See the various sections of this portal for further information.
 

News

• Proposals for secondary use under “Antarctica InSync” will be accepted for the final time until 2 December 2026 (with funding through SPP 2520) or 6 January 2027 (without funding). The proposals will undergo a comparative review at the GPF meeting on 4–5 May 2027.
• The establishment of SPP 2520 “Research Vessels” by the DFG Senate on 25 September 2024 resulted in numerous changes to the GPF process. Please familiarise yourself with the current instructions(interner Link)
• The SPP 2520 now has an own website with further information: https://www.spp2520.uni-heidelberg.de/en(externer Link)
• The new call for proposals for SPP 2520 (SPP 2520/3) has been published on July 23, 2026. Submission deadline is December 2, 2026. Please refer to DFG’s Information for Researchers.(externer Link)
• Dates of the upcoming GPF meetings and deadlines for the submission of new cruise proposals can be found on the subpage Review(interner Link)
• The next coordination workshop for SPP 2520 Research Vessels takes place on 15-16 June 2027 in Bremen.
• A current overview of cruises in the planning pool that have not yet been incorporated into the published cruise schedule can be downloaded here(Download).

Announcements

RESEARCH CAPACITIES RV SONNE TRANSITS SO326/2, SO328/2 and SO329/2

SO326/2 

In connection with a necessary transit from Papeete (French-Polyensia) to Mazanillo (Mexico) there are research capacities available on RV SONNE in the time period from Sep 11, 2027 to Sep 28, 2027 (as of September 16, 2026, subject to change). The direct transit from Papeete to Manzanillo takes 15 days (with 10 kn). Depending on the proposed research program and resulting deviations from the direct route up to 1 working day can be applied for. 

SO328/2 

In connection with a necessary transit from Honolulu (USA) to Wellington (New Zealand) there are research capacities available on RV SONNE in the time period from Dec 21, 2027 to Jan 10, 2028 (as of September 16, 2026, subject to change). The direct transit from Honolulu to Wellington takes 18 days (with 10 kn). Depending on the proposed research program and resulting deviations from the direct route up to 1 working day can be applied for. 

SO329/2 

In connection with a necessary transit from Auckland (New Zealand) to Honolulu (USA) there are research capacities available on RV SONNE in the time period from Feb 26, 2028 to Mar 13, 2028 (as of September 16, 2026, subject to change). The direct transit from Auckland to Honolulu takes 16 days (with 10 kn). Depending on the proposed research program and resulting deviations from the direct route up to 1 working day can be applied for. 

Regular cruise proposals in context with these three announced transits SO 326/2, SO328/ and SO329/2 can be submitted by Jan 06, 2027 via the elan portal(externer Link) of the DFG. No funds can be requested for these transit cruises. The applying institution must bear all costs incurred during the transit cruise itself. Further information on preparing cruise proposals can be found in the Cruise Proposal Preparation Instructions(Download). 

For transit SO329/2, it is additionally possible to submit grant proposals as scientific project proposals with a defined need for funding, in response to the annual calls issued under the DFG Infrastructure Priority Programme SPP 2520(externer Link) “Research Vessels“. Grant proposals can be submitted by Dec 02, 2026 via the elan portal(externer Link) of the DFG

Attention: Please insert the letter “T” to your acronym in the following way: “Acronym – T”.