German Research Foundation and State of Lower Saxony provide 2.4 million euros in funding for the successor to the 37-year-old "Otzum"
18 metres long, a draught of 1.10 metres, a maximum speed of 20 knots (38 kilometres per hour), a crane and a large working deck with space for a wide range of research equipment: these are some of the features of the research catamaran "Otzum II", which will be available to the Institute of Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg for interdisciplinary research from 2027. The boat will serve as a replacement for the 37-year-old "Otzum", which is no longer state of the art and has become increasingly susceptible to repairs. The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved 1.2 million euros for the new research boat as part of its large-scale equipment funding programme. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Science is also providing the same amount.
The ICBM has been operating the "Otzum" - a former German Navy boat - as a Lower Saxony government vessel since 2006. The 13-metre-long motor launch was used by researchers mainly near the coast, in the Wadden Sea, in rivers and estuaries, for example to take water, plankton and sediment samples, carry out high-resolution oceanographic measurements, test new measuring instruments or maintain the ICBM's so-called "measuring pile" - a permanent measuring station between Langeoog and Spiekeroog. The research boat also served as a platform for dives.
The "Otzum II" is specially designed for coastal regions and offers state-of-the-art equipment and propulsion technology as well as good stability and manoeuvrability. The ICBM researchers are thus expanding their possibilities and their area of operation. In future, they will also be able to head for the open North Sea up to a distance of around 100 kilometres off the coast in order to carry out studies in German marine protected areas or near wind farms. At the same time, the new catamaran remains well suited for work in the Wadden Sea thanks to its shallow draught. The boat, which is prepared for environmentally friendly hybrid drive, offers space for up to twelve scientists.
Compared to its predecessor, the new vessel has numerous additional functions: For example, it is to be equipped with several winches to be able to tow measuring equipment or recover it from the seabed. A large working deck will make it possible to carry out complex scientific tasks or deploy autonomous underwater robots.
The oceanographer Dr Thomas Badewien from the ICBM, who has been in charge of the "Otzum" since its commissioning, will be responsible for the new research boat. In addition to the "Marine Sensor Systems" working group, which Badewien is currently leading on an interim basis, the "Processes and Sensing of Marine Interfaces" team led by Prof Dr Oliver Wurl and "Environmental Biochemistry" led by Prof Dr Peter Schupp will be among the main users of the "Otzum II". It is also open to other research groups at the university.