Neumayer Station III was officially commissioned on 20 February 2009 after only seven months of construction. It differs fundamentally from its predecessors in that it is no longer sunk into the ice but was built on the surface.
auf dem Schelfeis an der Atka Bucht, 2012,
Alfred-Wegener-Institut / Stefan Christmann, Creative Commons Lizenz CC-BY 4.0
The striking building stands on 16 hydraulic stilts resting on a solid base plate in the snow. This innovative construction makes it possible to raise the entire station regularly to counteract the annual snow accumulation. Raising the station prevents it from being crushed by the growing ice pressure, as happened to Neumayer I and II. The station is located on the Ekström Ice Shelf in Queen Maud Land, about 40 kilometres from the ice shelf edge.
A key research goal in 2025 is to monitor global climate change through high-precision long-term measurements. The station’s observatories continuously collect meteorological, geophysical and atmospheric chemical data. Of particular importance is the infrasound station, which is part of a global network for monitoring the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
The station houses a modern hospital, including an operating theatre and telemedicine connection, to ensure the care of the wintering crew.
In winter, there are usually nine people living there, while in the Antarctic summer, it can accommodate up to 50 scientists. One technological highlight is the EDEN-ISS greenhouse, where vegetables have been successfully grown for the crew without soil or sunlight. A combined heat and power plant is used for energy supply, supported by wind turbines to save fossil fuels. The station also serves as an important data centre for the penguin observatory, which monitors a nearby emperor penguin colony. The Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) coordinates extensive field expeditions into the Antarctic hinterland from here.
In 2025, the laboratories were modernised to enable even more complex sample analyses to be carried out directly on site.
The station is connected to the AWI in Bremerhaven via a satellite link around the clock.
Due to its location on the flowing ice shelf, Neumayer III drifts steadily northwards at a rate of about 157 metres per year.
The planned service life of the station is at least 25 to 30 years, which is an enormous increase compared to its predecessors. Today, Neumayer III is a symbol of technological excellence and Germany’s contribution to the protection of the Antarctic ecosystem.