ALDEBARAN

Officially recognized as a UN Ocean Decade Contribution

The research and media ship ALDEBARAN has been underway since 1992 as a flexible and cost-effective research and communication platform on more than 250 expeditions covering over 100,000 nautical miles, mainly in shallow water and coastal areas in Germany and Europe. With a draught of just under one metre and excellent basic equipment, the research vessel specializes in shallow and coastal waters.

With competent partners from marine, climate and biodiversity research, ALDEBARAN has helped to establish marine protected areas in European, Atlantic and Caribbean waters and collect valuable data from endangered ecosystems. With the help of the media equipment, millions of people have been reached with high quality marine information. Many decision-makers use 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 makers. 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 for visualizing research projects and results, the ALDEBARAN offers a perfect platform for educational projects.

A dedicated, experienced and highly trained crew creates a professional and effective working environment at extremely attractive conditions and completes a service for applied and basic research that leaves nothing to be desired.

With our unique platform and decades of experience, we are happy to be your project partner for environmental education as well as press and public relations work for all kinds of marine projects - with or without a ship. Live audio and video broadcasts in radio and TV quality as well as social media and online activities are possible at any time directly from on board with a fast online connection. A modern media laboratory on board allows 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. The ALDEBARAN is equipped with a fully equipped, state-of-the-art scientific laboratory, a radio studio with broadcasting capability and a professional sound and video control room. Thanks to satellite technology, it is possible to broadcast and communicate from on board in high quality and worldwide. Three kilometers of cable on board and optimal use of space make the research vessel a proven and reliable research and multimedia platform. ALDEBARAN is an established interface between science, media and society - researchers and journalists work hand in hand on board.

Ship type: Sonate Ovni 43 (Alubat, aluminum material), 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
Cruising area: Worldwide
Callsign: DH2020
Year of construction: 1986 - complete new construction 2011
Fresh water supply: 800 l hot or cold water, desalination system (if required)
Zodiac inflatable boat: Suzuki outboard 15 kW
Laboratory on board: for marine research (geology, biology, ecology, paleontology)
Use from 1 metre water depth and worldwide (ocean, seas, rivers, estuaries, harbors)
Crew: 1-2 people, guest researchers/media: 2-4 people (science/media)
CO2-free propulsion: sail (100 m2 sail area) / diesel-electric (47 kW), dinghy (15 kW)
Speed: 5 - 8 knots (under sail and engine)
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 and communication 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, Fish Finder, 3 hydrophones for hydroacoustic recordings (e.g. of marine mammals) (COULD)
Official weather station of the German Weather Service with satellite connection
Wet lab corner with sink - Dry lab area 
Metal detector: Ebinger 722T underwater metal detector
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
Diving equipment: 5 complete sets of Scubapro diving equipment, 4 tanks in holders (2x 12l, 2x 15l), 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: Use 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
Professional UW recordings: High-resolution UW and underwater film lights
Video monitoring: Towed monitoring camera for video transects
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 soil grab 1 l
Niskin water sampler
Hydrophones,
Weather station of the German Weather Service
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
Laptop
Zeiss Axiolab 5 microscope and Stemi 508 binoculars, each with attached Axiocam 208 color for live documentation and observation
WTW Multimeter Multi 350i (pH, oxygen, temperature, conductivity, salinity)
EXO multi-parameter probe flow-through system (with stainless steel line into the seawater, optional)
Aquariums in various sizes with bubble stones for observation and documentation
Collection vessels, glass flasks, landing nets and collection nets
Counting frame (1x1m)
Van Veen floor grabber 1 liter
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
10 cameras: above, underwater and drone, microscope, binoculars, endoscope with 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 can independently carry out projects in the field of coastal, estuarine and river research on the basis of professional project management from the Hamburg land base. To date, a number of coastal monitoring projects have been carried out using towed video cameras, behavioral studies on pilot whales or parts of 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.
ALDEBARAN is an award-winning pioneer in the field of visualization of research results, especially in marine research.
Micro-recordings

Only those who can see and understand exciting processes in the sea in all their parts are fascinated by the inexhaustible variety of colors, shapes and events.
ALDEBARAN has a long tradition of visualizing 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 life in the water become a fascinating experience for television and cinema.
Underwater documentation in 360 degrees

Life in the ocean has so far been less explored than the far side of the uninhabited moon. Current documentaries about the ocean show only a fraction of what can really be found beneath the surface. The dimension of the ocean's significance in climate events is still in its infancy; we know less than 5% of the ocean.
In collaboration with media experts and scientists, the ALDEBARAN team is constantly working on innovative ideas and concepts to document and communicate the "secrets of the oceans" in a fascinating and entertaining way. In view of climate change, which is also taking place in the ocean in unbelievable heat waves, time is pressing to make the consequences that have already occurred under water accessible 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 insights into the marine world can be captured in the highest resolution.