Baltic Marine Environment
Protection Commission

Research Vessels and Research Permits

Research vessels

Research vessels used in HELCOM monitoring programmes are listed under this page based on data collected within BALSAM project WP5 activities (co- financed by the European Union DG Environment). 

Finnish research vessel Aranda. © Panu Hänninen/Syke

The table below displays common information of research vessels, including a national web page containing vessel information and a link to ship’s current position using MarineTraffic service. Reports of past cruises are available as links in “Completed cruises” column. Column “SeaDataNet CSRs” contains a link to vessel’s SeaDataNet Cruise Summary Reports (if available). By clicking the Name of the vessel, a full list of attribute information is displayed. A system for collecting information on planned cruises from ship operators web site FTP box was developed in the project by Tallinn University.   

Research vessels table

NameCall signCountryCompleted CruisesSeaDataNet CSRs
AlkorDBNDGermanyCruise reportsView CSRs
ArandaOIRYFinlandCruise reportsView CSRs
AuroraOUYFDenmarkView CSRs
BalticaSNGHPolandCruise reportsView CSRs
DanaOXBHDenmarkView CSRs
DariusLYIILithuaniaView CSRs
Elisabeth Mann-BorgeseDBKRGermanyCruise reportsView CSRs
GeomariOJ2527FinlandView CSRs
HaithabuDK7933GermanyView CSRs
MareYL2846LatviaView CSRs
MintisLYAPLithuaniaView CSRs
OceanografSPG2054PolandView CSRs
SalmeES2408EstoniaView CSRs
SkagerakSGCDSwedenCruise reportsView CSRs
StrelasundDBVEGermanyView CSRs
VéjúnasLYTNLithuaniaCruise reportsView CSRs

Research permits

Information on applying for marine research permits from Contracting Parties is listed below.

Denmark

Information on applying for permits is available at https://um.dk/udenrigspolitik/folkeretten/folkeretten-a/havret under ”Havforskning – tilladelser” (in Danish).

Applicants must fill in the following form and send it to jthav@um.dk

Estonia

According to the Water Act (§s 244-249), the competent authority for issuing the marine research permits in the Estonian marine area is the Ministry of Climate. Applications for permits should be sent to: info@kliimaministeerium.ee 

More detailed information and application forms are available: https://kliimaministeerium.ee/en/water-forest-resources/protection-marine-environment/marine-research-permit

Germany

Requirements for research activities by foreign vessels in German marine waters involving:

  • Stationary objects (e.g. buoys) and seabed related activities in the EEZ: Permit requirement
    • Competent authority: Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH)
    • Approval regime: Foreign public institutions apply via their national embassy to the German Federal Foreign Office. Applications will be handed down via the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport to the BSH. Allow sufficient time for this process. Foreign private applicants can address their application directly to BSH. All applications must be received by BSH at least 6 weeks before the start of the cruise. For details see https://www.bsh.de/EN/TOPICS/Offshore/Offshore_projects/Measuring_points/measuring_points_node.html (stationary objects).  
  • Surveys relating to the water column in all marine waters under German jurisdiction: Registration requirement
    • Competent authorities: Traffic Control Center and Shipping and Waterway Agency.
    • In special cases, the Shipping and Waterway Agency grants specific permits.

Poland

Conducting scientific research (research) within the Polish maritime areas is specified in the provisions of the Act of March 21, 1991 on the maritime areas of the Republic of Poland and maritime administration (Journal of Laws 2023, item 960, Articles 28 – 32a) – in Polish: ustawa z dnia 21 marca 1991 r.
o obszarach morskich Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej i administracji morskiej.

Additional provisions regulate scientific research, where research:

  • includes fishing – applies provisions of the sea fishing regulations;
  • is archeological research – applies the provision of the Act of 23 July 2003 on the Protection and Care of Historical Monuments (Journal of Laws 2022, item 840);
  • is related to chemical weapons, toxic chemicals and their precursors – applies the provisions of  the Act of 22 June 2001 on the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC Convention).

Foreign states, legal entities and natural persons and respective international organizations, may conduct research within the Polish maritime areas  (both Polish internal and territorial waters and Polish exclusive economic zone) after obtaining a permit issued by:

The application for a permit should be presented to the Polish side (Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Legal and Treaty Department: https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/legal-and-treaty-department) no later than 3 months prior to the expected date of starting the research, through the diplomatic mission of the applicant’s country, located on the territory of the Republic of Poland. The application should be submitted in Polish.