RV Meteor (1986)

The RV Meteor (also Meteor III) is a multidisciplinary research vessel operating mainly on the high sea. She is owned by the German state represented by its Federal Ministry of Education and Research[3] and registered in Hamburg.[1]

History
Germany
Name	RV Meteor
Owner	Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany)[1]
Operator	Briese Schiffahrts GmbH
Port of registry	Germany
Builder	Schlichting-Werft, Travemünde, Germany[1]
Homeport	Hamburg
Identification	IMO number: 8411279[2] Call sign: DBBH[2] MMSI number: 211206980[2]
Status	Active as of 2018
General characteristics
Class and type	Research vessel
Length	97.5 m (319 ft 11 in)[1]
Beam	16.5 m (54 ft 2 in)[1]
Draught	5.61 m (18 ft 5 in)[1]
Installed power	2 x 1,150 kW electrical engines
Propulsion	Diesel-electrical system
Speed	11.5 knots (21.3 km/h)[1]
Crew	33 + 30 scientists[1]

RV Meteor operates mainly in the areas of the Atlantic, the eastern Pacific, and the western Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean and the Baltic Seas.[3] The current Meteor is the third German research vessel in a row sharing the same name, after Meteor and RV Meteor (1964).

Until 2012, Meteor was operated by Bremerhaven based company F. Laeisz GmbH. Since January 2013 the ship has a new operator, Briese Schiffahrt in Leer.[4] It can accommodate up to 30 scientists for work in 20 laboratories on the main deck.[4]

A new ship named Meteor was ordered at Meyer Werft and Fassmer in 2022 to replace the Meteor and the Poseidon, wich has already been retired, in 2026.[5]