ALKOR – Regional marine research

ALKOR is a regional research vessel serving all disciplines in German and European marine research. ALKOR operates primarily in the Baltic Sea, the Kattegat and Skagerrak, the North Sea and off the coast of Norway. The 55 m long vessel has four laboratories to analyse air, water and sediment samples. The primary research disciplines which ALKOR serves are oceanography, biology, fisheries biology, geophysics and geology. The research vessel has capacity for 12 scientists.

This ALKOR is the successor to a research cutter of the same name which, after 24 years of service in science, could no longer meet the environmental standards required by 1990. ALKOR is named after a star in the Big Dipper constellation. ALKOR currently undertakes expeditions for German and European research groups. In addition, she is used for teaching and internship trips, and she is capable of deploying the underwater vehicles JAGO, ROV and AUV ABYSS PHOCA. ALKOR is the sister ship to R/V HEINCKE in Helgoland.

The ship is managed by Briese Shipping, located in Leer, Germany. She is permitted for “short trips” and limited deep-sea fishing. ALKOR can remain at sea for 21 days. She was overhauled and modernized at the end of 2010.