Ocean Science Exhibition

The Ocean Science multimedia exhibition organised by the German Ocean Foundation on board the Cap San Diego in the Port of Hamburg is currently the only exhibition open to the public in Germany that is entirely dedicated to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UN Ocean Decade 2021–2030). It is aimed at visitors of all ages – from school groups and families to specialist audiences and policy-makers.

At the heart of the exhibition is an interactive multimedia presentation which, in both German and English, quickly and clearly explains the background, objectives and challenges of the UN Decade of Ocean Science. At the same time, it highlights Germany’s key areas of action for the sustainable management of the ocean – ranging from climate and marine conservation and the sustainable use of marine resources to research, innovation and education.

Supported by more than 75 partners from the worlds of science, business, politics and civil society, the exhibition brings the global goals of the Decade of the Ocean to life for a wide audience. It clearly illustrates why the ocean is of central importance to the climate, food security, biodiversity and economic development, and what each and every one of us can do to help protect it.

As an out-of-school learning venue, the exhibition offers an attractive educational programme, particularly for schools. The combination of multimedia presentations, interactive and unique exhibits, and moderated discussion sessions provides accessible entry into complex future-oriented topics and fosters an understanding of the ocean’s significance as our planet’s largest habitat. The exhibition thus makes a concrete contribution to the implementation of the UN Ocean Decade’s goals and to strengthening ocean awareness in Germany.

In addition to two world premieres: the microplastic collector, a project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate, and the first research diver-guided underwater satellite, the exhibition features an Argo Float, one of the 3,000 state-of-the-art measuring buoys currently deployed on the ocean, and an active algae reactor from the University of Hamburg showing how food and energy can be extracted in future from the ocean. Also on display is one of the first automatic measuring stations for ships, the OceanPack™ from the Kiel-based company SubCtech, which is also used by the professional sailor Boris Herrmann from Hamburg on board his IMOCA racing yacht Malizia Seaexplorer. An historic Swedish sea mine brought up from the Baltic seabed and art made from ghost nets by the Hamburg start-up Bracenet, together with a documentary on the salvage of legacy munition in the Baltic Sea, bring the topic of marine pollution to life. A touch table provides visitors with information on the Ocean Decade and allows them to watch films about the Foundation’s Research at sea competition winners on board the research vessel ALDEBARAN, from which a historical weather station is also on display.

The Cap San Diego, the world's largest seaworthy museum cargo ship now moored at the Überseebrücke in Hamburg, has been a maritime monument and floating hotel since 2003. The exhibition is set up in the freighter's former oil tank and hold and consists of a multimedia show on five large video screens and selected exhibits. The Ocean Science multimedia exhibition will be on display for the entire duration of the Ocean Decade.

This exhibition is powered by a photovoltaic system installed by Meyer Burger on the deck of the Cap San Diego – making it the first exhibition in Hamburg to rely solely on self-generated solar power.

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