Environmental Protection

Environmental Protection

Environmental impact due to ship operation cannot be fully excluded. All activities are conducted within the frame of navigation regulations and special protection regulations for the marine regions of interest. These are amongst others the MARPOL convention for the protection of the marine environment, the Antarctic Treaty regulations and obligations which the German Federal Ministry of the Environment (UBA) ties to permits. Also waste management was planned in close cooperation with the German Federal Ministry of the Environment.

On board:
Solid materials (plastics, wood, glas, metals, batteries) are collected seperately and disposed of onshore with approved companies following the MARPOL regulations.
Paper and oily waste are incinerated in the onboard incineration plant. The remaining ash is collected and disposed of onshore.
Blackwater is treated completely in a aerobic bioreactor in combination with ultrafiltration. Greywater is treated via a membrane-based ultrafiltration.
Oily bilge water from the machine area is cleaned via a bilge water seperator which achieves a residual oil content of less than 3 ppm.
Oily sludge from the fuel and lub oil system is collected in a sludge tank and handed over in the port.
Ballast water is taken on board mainly in polar regions to avoid introduction of exogenous species. Furthermore ballast water treatment is conducted and discharge of ballast water does not take place in polare regions.
Engines of RV Polarstern are run with marine diesel oil (MDO) of class DMA.
Used chemicals from the laboratories are collected and taken to Bremerhaven for correct disposal.

Fin of a Southern Right Whale (Photo: Dr. Thomas Ronge)

Fulmar accompanying RV Polarstern (Photo: Lars Grübner)