Heincke Expedition North Sea 2026

Introduction

How do oceanographers live and conduct research aboard a research vessel?

In April 2026, fourteen LMU students set off for the North Sea to experience exactly this firsthand during a five-day field excursion. Together with students from Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, they boarded the research vessel Heincke under the supervision of expedition leaders Dr. Wilken-Jon von Appen and Prof. Dr. Alexander Haumann. Throughout the excursion, they became familiar with numerous oceanographic measurement techniques. Below, the students share insights into their experiences.

In the following blog post, students share insights into everyday life aboard the research vessel Heincke.

Wednesday, 29 April 2026

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Elias Thoma, Greta Drabe

Early Wednesday morning, we traveled by train from the AWI guesthouse in Bremerhaven to Cuxhaven. From there, we took the ferry to Helgoland, where the research vessel Heincke was already waiting for us in the harbor.

After a tour introducing the structure of the ship and a safety briefing by the second officer, the main program for the rest of the afternoon began. We were introduced to the operation of a CTD rosette (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth), which was also demonstrated to us. Using this instrument, it is possible to determine or calculate salinity, temperature, water density, chlorophyll concentration, and various other parameters.

In the evening, we prepared the mooring — also equipped with instruments for measuring temperature, conductivity, and pressure — for deployment the following day. Afterwards, the group left the ship for the night and stayed at the youth hostel and the AWI guesthouse on Helgoland, excited for the days ahead.

Thursday, 30 April 2026

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Veronika Gröschl, Diotima Knote, Lotte Wolf

Our first full working day aboard the Heincke started early, but with perfect conditions and high spirits. After breakfast, we deployed a mooring for a 48-hour long-term measurement campaign.

Throughout the day, we had the opportunity to operate the various instruments ourselves for the first time, including the CTD rosette, and conduct experiments. Among other things, we independently collected temperature and salinity data from different water depths.

One of the highlights was the Van Veen grab sampler, which we used to examine a sediment sample from the seafloor. During this, we made an exciting discovery: a sea mouse!

After returning to the harbor, attending further discussions, and enjoying a delicious dinner, we explored Helgoland in the evening. Our expedition leader informed us at several stops about the island’s history, geology, wildlife, and other special features. We saw grey seals, northern gannets, and common murres along the spectacular cliffs. At the northern end of Helgoland, we ended the day watching the sunset together with the island’s 42 sheep and their owner.

Friday, 1 May 2026

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Nassjenka Teebken, Charlotte Reimers, Emily Kober

May 1st began with a beautiful golden sunrise. Even the crew seemed to be in excellent spirits on Labor Day, and we set sail punctually at 7 a.m.

We followed the same route as the previous day and additionally extended it with a transect toward the southwest, where we conducted measurements at seven additional locations (so-called stations).

At the first station in the northwest, we collected another seafloor sediment sample using the grab sampler and compared it with the sample from the previous day. We found that the seafloor there was coarser-grained and more oxygen-rich than the previous sample.

The CTD measurements, plankton net sampling, and laboratory analyses all ran smoothly because we had already become familiar with the station procedures from the previous day. New on Friday was the multinet system, which enabled us to obtain a vertical profile of the zooplankton present at one station.

In the afternoon, we learned a great deal beyond our main focus of oceanography. During a guided tour of the bridge, for example, the navigator explained the radar systems and the ship’s navigation methods. We also visited the deck and engine room.

After two days of gaining insight into daily life and work aboard a research vessel, we were now able to take charge ourselves on the third day. Just like on major research expeditions, we elected a student expedition leader. Together, we planned the new route and scientific stations for the following day.

Since everyone had different interests and priorities regarding their measurements, lively discussions developed and continued late into the evening. On the way back, we watched the full moon rise, providing a fitting end to a successful day.

Saturday, 2 May 2026

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Antonia Paus, Julian Pfender

A new day began, and the sun greeted us warmly as we assembled in full attendance at exactly 7:00 a.m., armed with nothing but outstanding spirits (thanks to coffee) and protected by the maximum humanly possible amount of sunscreen.

A specially appointed student expedition management team implemented the schedule that had been designed according to the students’ interests. Initial successes appeared immediately: during the recovery of the mooring using a bit of rock ’n’ roll (an underwater acoustic release signal), we managed to release the mooring, and after two days underwater, the orange flotation elements finally saw sunlight again!

Using hooks and combined effort, we brought the mooring and its instruments safely back aboard.

Even the first seafloor sample of the day, collected with the grab sampler, sent the students into enthusiastic excitement as they searched through the muddy sediment from the seabed. Among the finds were sea urchins and worms.

The evening was dedicated to analysis. The teams worked purposefully on evaluating the collected data — while still making sure to properly enjoy the final evening together.

Sunday, 3 May 2026

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Von Alina Boehm, Anja Arnold, Maria Pert

At the conclusion of the expedition, we students presented the evaluation and interpretation of the datasets collected over the previous days.

Beforehand, we had worked in pairs to closely examine and analyze the measurements from individual instruments. Topics ranged from the evaluation of CTD measurement series and current velocity data to investigations of phytoplankton distribution in the North Sea.

This allowed us to deepen our understanding of the processes around Helgoland and gain new insights through discussion with one another. For example, it became clear how strongly tides influence various environmental parameters.

Meanwhile, aboard the Heincke, we were already on our way back toward Bremerhaven, where we docked in the early afternoon and helped prepare the ship before departure.

There, we said goodbye to the crew and visited the AWI main building and campus before heading to the train station. Via Hanover, we finally arrived back in Munich late in the evening.

We are very grateful to the AWI, our supervisors, and the crew for this unique opportunity to gain such comprehensive insight into scientific work aboard a research vessel.