ALDEBARAN

Officially recognized as a UN Ocean Decade Activity

Since 1992, the research and media ship ALDEBARAN, a flexible and cost-effective platform for marine research and communication, has been on more than 250 expeditions covering over 100,000 nautical miles, mainly in Germany and Europe. With a draught of just under one metre and excellent technical equipment on board, the research vessel specializes in shallow and coastal waters.

With competent partners from marine, climate and biodiversity research, the ALDEBARAN has helped to establish marine protected areas in European, Atlantic and Caribbean waters and to collect valuable data from endangered ecosystems. High-quality marine communications have been transmitted to an audience of millions of people. Many decision-makers use the ALDEBARAN as an attractive platform for sharing marine knowledge.

The ALDEBARAN can be deployed worldwide - even at short notice - and offers a flexible and uncomplicated workplace for up to four scientists, technicians and media representatives. For decades, the research vessel has been an example of how excellent marine research can be carried out with a minimal carbon footprint. The ALDEBARAN was commissioned in 1992, overhauled in 2011 and is constantly being equipped with the latest scientific, navigation and communication technologies. With a ship's crew with many years of experience and high-quality technical equipment on board for visualizing research projects and results, the ALDEBARAN offers a perfect platform for educational projects.

A dedicated, experienced and highly-trained crew provide a professional and effective working environment with extremely attractive conditions, offering a service for applied and basic marine research that leaves nothing to be desired. 

With decades of experience, we would be pleased to partner with your for projects in the area of environmental education as well as press and public relations - with or without a ship. A modern media laboratory on board enables professional live communication directly from the ship via satellite transmission for radio and TV, as well as technical infrastructure for content production for social media.

The 13.50 meter long research and media ship ALDEBARAN is a French aluminum construction of the type "Sonate Ovni 43". A hydraulic device allows the centerboard and keel to be pumped up so that the draft can be reduced to just under one meter. This is ideal for shallow water and coastal areas, where the research and media vessel primarily operates. The ALDEBARAN can therefore be used anywhere where people come into direct contact with the sea. Another advantage is the "square-cut hull" (buckling frame), which makes it possible to fall dry in tidal waters without tipping over on its side thanks to its flat base.

What makes the ship so unique is its interior. In addition to a fully-equipped, state-of-the-art scientific laboratory, the ALDEBARAN also has a broadcast-ready radio studio and a professional sound and video control room. This means that high-quality satellite technology can be used to broadcast and communicate worldwide from on board. Three kilometres of cable on board and an optimum use of space make the vessel a proven and reliable research and media platform. The ALDEBARAN team works at the interface between science, media and society - researchers and journalists work hand in hand on board.

  • Ship type: Sonate Ovni 43 (material: aluminum), research and sailing ship

    Length/width/draught: 13.50 m/ 4.50 m/ 0.80 - 2.10 m (for shallow water area)

    Flag: Federal Republic of Germany

    Home port: Hamburg, Germany 

    Area of operations: Worldwide 

    Callsign: DH2020

    Year of construction: 1986 - complete new construction 2011

    Fresh water supply: 800 l hot or cold water, desalination system (if required)

    Crew: 1-2 people, guest researchers/media: 2-4 people 

  • Propulsion system: Sail (100 m² sail area) / diesel engine 47 kW

    Speed: 5 - 8 knots (under sail and engine)

    Zodiac inflatable boat: Suzuki outboard 15 kW

    Range: 30 days at sea (under sail), 70 hours engine (300 l diesel)

    On-board current: 12 V, 230 V, 380 V (up to 5 kW)

    Power supply: 230 V, 50 Hz (2000 watts), 12 V (up to 100 A)

    Navigation: B&G, on-board computer with navigation, GPS satellite compass, autopilot, radar, AIS transmitter and receiver, external monitors

    Communication: UMTS / Highspeed Internet Starlink / 2 GSM telephones Shortwave radio with automatic antenna tuner, EPIRB distress beacon, INMARSAT C and portable INMARSAT terminal 

  • Rear boom: (A-frame at the rear) with swivel-mounted boom and guide rollers, maximum load 80 kg 

    Stern platform (wooden decking) for safe scientific work 10 cm above the water surface 

    B&G Echograph and echo sounder: Echograph for deep and shallow water, B&G Forward Scan Sonar, FishFinder, 3 hydrophones for hydroacoustic recordings (e.g. of marine mammals) (COULD) 

    Official weather station of the German Weather Service with hourly satellite data exchange for air temperature (-44 to 49 °C), relative humidity and air pressure 

    Wet lab with sink - dry lab  

    Metal detector: Ebinger 722T underwater metal detector 

  • Diving equipment: 5 complete sets of Scubapro diving equipment, 4 tanks in holders (2x 12 l, 2x 15 l), powerful compressor (Bauer) with connections for 4 tanks, diving ladder, oxygen emergency kit with circulation system (Wenoll), Zodiac Marc II dinghy for 4 people for securing (optional) 

    Research diver assignments: deployment of research divers in accordance with the "Guidelines for Research Divers" for scientific work, sampling or documentation

    Insurance cover for all diving work and divers on board the ALDEBARAN 

    Video monitoring: towed monitoring camera for video transects

    Professional UW recordings: High-resolution UW and underwater film lights

  • Scientific equipment

    Research drone

    Underwater monitoring camera

    Xylem/EXO multiparameter probe for oxygen concentration, salinity and temperature

    Sediment standpipe

    Manta microplastic collector

    HYDRO-BIOS van Veen floor grabs

    Niskin water sampler

    Hydrophone

    Secchi disk for determining the viewing depth

    Photometer for nutrient analysis

    various plankton nets (200µm)

    Depth profile with echograph and fish finder

  • Laboratory

    ZEISS Axiolab laboratory microscope & Axiocam color

    ZEISS Stemi Binocular & Axiocam color

    Schölly endoscope

    Flow-through system (with stainless steel pipe into sea water, optional)

    Aquariums in various sizes with bubble stones for observation and documentation

    Collection vessels, glass flasks, landing nets and collection nets

    Counting frame (1x1m)

  • Media equipment

    The ship is equipped with digital sound and image editing stations, full HD cameras, images from underwater cameras or microscopes can be transmitted to large screens inside and outside the ship 

    Professional UW recordings: High-resolution UW and underwater film lights 

    Professional TV cameras and wireless audio radio links with mixing console

    Image mixer for live online productions and large control monitor in the "Salon"

    Three multi-camera systems for 360-degree underwater recordings and 5.1 surround sound recordings under water

    Live TV and radio broadcasts possible

  • Contract research

    The ALDEBARAN team is made up of trained scientists and technicians who, with project management from the Hamburg landbase, can independently run projects in the field of coastal, estuarine and river research.

    To date, a large number of coastal monitoring projects have been carried out with towed video cameras, behavioral studies on pilot whales and environmental impact studies with and without the use of research divers.

    Major river research projects have already been carried out on the Elbe, Weser, Rhine and Vltava.

    For larger projects, the experienced ALDEBARAN team and its network can carry out their own development work. ALDEBARAN did pioneering work in 2007 with the first spatial surround sound 5.1 recordings in a coral reef. (Recordings are available on request.)

  • Research documentation

    Almost all sponsors of research projects require professional documentation of their funded research projects, which we are happy to provide with our experienced team.

    The ALDEBARAN is a multiple award-winning pioneer in the field of visualization of research results, especially in marine research.

  • Underwater documentation with 360-degree camera

    Life in the ocean has so far been less explored than the far side of the moon. Current documentaries about the ocean show only a fraction of what really lies beneath the water's surface. With less than 5% of the ocean explored, our appreaciation of its significance, particularly in terms of climate change, is still in its infancy.

    Together with media experts and scientists, the ALDEBARAN team is constantly working on innovative ideas and concepts to document and communicate the "secrets of the ocean" in a fascinating and entertaining way. Time is of the essence: it is imperative that the effect of climate change on the ocean can be shown to the public and decision-makers as quickly and impressively as possible.

    With the help of the latest underwater cameras, including panoramic and 360-degree technology, unique and high-resolution insights into the marine world are possible.

  • Microfilm recordings

    The true fascination of the inexhaustible variety of colors, shapes and life forms only begins when you can see and understand all the exciting processes under water.

    The ALDEBARAN has a long tradition of communicating underwater events and we have worked with prominent micro-film pioneers such as Klaus Hirschel and Klaus Gensel (the only Grimme Award-winning micro-cameraman). Only with experienced teams, the best technology and a lot of patience can underwater life be turned into a fascinating experience for television and cinema. 

Selected supporters and partners of ALDEBARAN: