The project represents the largest and most advanced research and polar logistics icebreaker design and development in the market, replacing the existing Polarstern research ship.

 Elomatic Maritime Technologies and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems , one of the world’s leading naval companies, have signed a substantial design and engineering contract to support the development of the innovative new Polarstern. The ship will be built at the large and modern shipyard of tkMS in Wismar. The shipyard has a remarkable track record in developing complex icebreaking ships, with more than 120 ships built for polar regions. Its latest multi-mission icebreakers were delivered in 2015 and won the highly recognized “HANSA ship of the year” award.

Elomatic, an international consulting and engineering company, will provide basic and detail engineering work, as well as providing yard consultancy, during the ship construction phase.

In 2022, members of the senior management from MV Werften decided to join Elomatic and establish a company in Wismar. One of the goals was to preserve key ship design expertise in their hometown of Wismar. The new Polarstern project aligns seamlessly with the company’s expertise in designing and constructing groundbreaking Arctic research vessels.

In December 2024, tkMS was awarded the public tender for the construction of the new Polarstern by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven, Germany. The contract represents the culmination of a two-year partnership between tkMS and Elomatic to develop the proposal for the new Polarstern project. This vessel is set to become the world’s largest and most advanced icebreaking research and polar logistics ship. It is equipped with a wide portfolio of advanced scientific and logistic equipment, on-board laboratories, and a propulsion system which uses green fuels in combination with a large battery system. Additionally, the ship can break through 1.8-metre-thick ice. The new vessel is scheduled to replace the existing Polarstern in 2030.

Elomatic brings extensive expertise in icebreaking ship design and engineering. Since 2022, Elomatic has served as the primary design and engineering partner for Canada’s new national polar icebreaker, currently in its detail engineering phase at Vancouver Shipyard (VSY).

Guido Schulte, Managing Director at Elomatic Maritime Technologies GmbH, commented on the announcement: “The new Polarstern project represents a significant moment for Elomatic, as the largest single ship design contract in the company’s 55-year history. We are extremely excited to continue our collaboration with our partners at tkMS and look forward to further contributing to the creation of this groundbreaking polar research vessel, to be built in our hometown.”

Oliver Burkhard, CEO of tkMS, said: “With the new Polarstern contract, we apply our maritime expertise also to the civilian sector, and prove that we can offer technological excellence at internationally competitive terms. thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is not only setting shipbuilding standards but is also making an active contribution to international research in the fight against climate change – and we are proud to support this mission with technology and innovation. We look forward to continuing this journey together.”