The subject of the contract is the new management of the four medium-sized research vessels "Maria S. Merian", "Alkor", "Elisabeth Mann Borgese" and "Heincke" over a maximum term of 11 years (5 years basic term plus two extension options for three years each) bundled by one shipowner.

The service will commence on 1 January 2025 (subject to change).

The ownership and operating structure is as follows:

1. "Maria S. Merian" (Owner: State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, represented by the Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs; Operator: German Research Vessels Coordination Centre at the University of Hamburg)

2. "Alkor" (Owner: Land Schleswig-Holstein; Operator: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

3. "Elisabeth Mann Borgese" (Owner: State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Operator: Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Rostock)

4. "Heincke" (Owner: Federal Republic of Germany, represented by the BMBF; Operator: Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven).

All medium-sized research vessels are grouped together in a so-called ship pool. The allocation of ship time for the medium-sized research vessels is based on uniform criteria that are evaluated by the Research Vessel Review Panel ("GPF") on the basis of scientific cruise proposals. The medium-sized research vessels are used for basic marine research projects and training. They are basically designed as "multi-purpose research vessels", i.e. they are usually suitable for various scientific disciplines. The user groups are recruited from scientists, technicians and students of the German marine science working groups and their international partners.

The four medium-sized research vessels sail under the German federal or state service flag or German flag (first register).

The research vessels are of a high standard due to the high requirements in terms of use, tasks and technical equipment. The management must take this standard into account and ensure qualified management, especially in the logistical, technological and technical areas.

The general objective of the management service to be awarded is to keep the research vessels in operational condition for scientific and logistical tasks in the field of interdisciplinary marine research and to enable the implementation of research contracts and other contracts while ensuring the quality and safety of the research. The management includes in particular the following services:

1. manning the ships for the day-to-day operation of the ship and to support research operations with a suitable, operational ship crew (including transport to/from the place of use, accommodation at the place of use, substitution (e.g. in the event of illness, vacation), other services related to manning),

2. Organization/planning, execution and control of:

- maintenance and repair work, servicing and equipping of ships for the purpose of permanent readiness and seaworthiness, in particular classification, class inspection and renewal of all necessary ship's documents as well as repairs and maintenance services, including all related work, which is necessary within the framework of careful care and operational readiness of the ships,

- nautical-technical tasks, including nautical-technical inspection,

- Supporting the scientific working groups, among other things, in the use of the equipment installed on board and in the use of the permanently installed scientific facilities and communication systems

- supply of ships with operating and auxiliary materials,

- provisioning of vessels,

- loading and unloading,

- accommodation, meals on board and transport on site of persons who are not part of the crew of the vessels,

- Ensuring the operational readiness of the permanently installed scientific-technical plants and systems (e.g. IT structure, communication, data acquisition, hydroacoustics, continuous measuring systems, etc.),

- safe and economical operation of ships,

- Measures in the event of shipping accidents as well as settlement of all claims in connection with the management of the ships, including the processing of claims for damages by third parties,

- Administrative shipping company tasks such as accounting, documentation, appointment of shipping agents in the ports of call, insurance of the ships.

For the construction instruction phase of possible replacement buildings or conversion phase, the necessary expert personnel must be provided.

The four ships have a wide range of overlaps and special features in terms of operation. Against this background, there are no plans to award a lot.