Exploring & protecting
the ocean frontier
For over two decades OceanLab has combined ultra-trace marine geochemistry with internet-operated deep-sea crawlers and long-duration seafloor monitoring — building the tools that reach the ocean floor, from Barkley Canyon methane seeps to the metal-rich nodule fields of the Clarion–Clipperton Zone.
Two decades of deep-sea innovation
OceanLab was founded in 2001 as a geoscience research group at the newly established International University Bremen — later Jacobs University, now Constructor University. From the start it grew as a joint effort: Prof. Laurenz Thomsen built the marine engineering and crawler-robotics side, while Prof. Andrea Koschinsky — a veteran of numerous international research cruises — and Prof. Michael Bau established the geochemistry laboratory a year later. Together, the two sides evolved into a multidisciplinary marine technology and geochemistry centre, unique among German university labs.
The lab occupies a remarkable piece of industrial history: a former 1930s military tank workshop (Panzerwerkstatt) in Bremen-Nord, whose reinforced floors and wide-bay garage doors proved ideal for handling multi-tonne marine equipment and operating a large indoor test basin. The building's adjoining former Klempner (plumber's) workshop became the geochemistry laboratory — and over more than two decades, the two sides of the building have been equally central to OceanLab's success.
Over 21 years the team led more than 30 expeditions, coordinated 18 international programmes (BMBF, DFG, EU, industry), and authored over 90 peer-reviewed papers. Prof. Vikram Unnithan has long supported the lab with marine geophysics, and Prof. Francesco Maurelli joined in 2018 to lead marine robotics. Following Thomsen's move to Gothenburg in 2022, this broader team continues the work — combining marine geosciences, robotics, sensor development, and analytical geochemistry.
World-class facilities under one roof
Large-scale wet engineering infrastructure, precision fabrication, and high-end analytical chemistry — all co-located on the Constructor University campus. No other academic lab in northwestern Germany offers this combination of test infrastructure and precision capability under one roof.
Large indoor test basin
Full-scale underwater equipment testing and deployment simulation. Supports ROV and crawler trials, AUV integration, and instrument validation under realistic submersion — a unique regional asset also used for media productions.
Constructor Toolshop — workshop
A fully equipped fabrication and prototyping shop: CNC router, lathe, TIG welder, band saws, drill presses, and a resin-curing oven. Operated by mechatronic engineer Martin Messmann. Full tool list →
Constructor Toolshop — electronics lab
Sensor integration, PCB work, and embedded prototyping for deep-sea deployment. Oscilloscope, function generator, soldering station, microscope, CAN-bus and network analysers — full in-house development of IOV and crawler electronics.
Geochemistry laboratory
Ultra-trace metal analysis: ICP-MS (NexION 350X) with SeaFAST pre-concentration, ICP-OES, voltammetry, ion chromatography, TOC/DOC, and high-pressure digestion in metal-free clean-lab space. Instrument list →
Fabrication & high-pressure suite
Proposed: titanium-rated CNC, waterjet, laser welding, multi-technology 3D printing, precision metrology, plus a deep-sea chamber simulating 4,000–6,000 m pressure — closing the lab-to-deployment gap. Resubmission in preparation.
Research areas
Spanning deep-sea ecology, benthic geochemistry, autonomous robotics, and marine technology development — with a growing focus on sustainable critical-metal resource assessment at the intersection of environmental science and industrial responsibility.
Platforms & systems
From internet-operated benthic crawlers to cooperative AUV fleets and integrated survey suites, OceanLab develops and operates a distinctive range of marine platforms for scientific exploration and technology validation.
MARFAB
Marine FabLab for Sustainable Deep-Sea Resource Technologies — integrated infrastructure for environmental monitoring and mineral assessment.
An €800,000 infrastructure proposal closing the gap between laboratory-scale development and validated deep-sea deployment — adding high-pressure testing (to 6,000 m equivalent), QqQ-ICP-MS ultra-trace geochemistry, and integrated multi-sensor geophysics.
An initial submission to the BMBF InfraBoost programme was not successful. The team is preparing a strengthened resubmission.
PI: Prof. Koschinsky · Co-I: Prof. Bau · Co-I: Prof. Unnithan
Germany's premier deep-sea technology hub
Deep-sea mining technology testing & validation
High-pressure simulation chamber (4,000–6,000 m), AI-driven selective-harvesting robotics platform, and an advanced fabrication workshop (CNC, waterjet, 3D printing, laser welding, metrology). ≈ 30% of budget
Advanced marine geochemical monitoring lab
Triple-quadrupole ICP-MS for interference-free ultra-trace analysis (<0.01 ppt), laser ablation (<10 µm), online pre-concentration, and field-deployable electrochemical sensor calibration. ≈ 50% of budget
Marine geophysics, data fusion & monitoring
Marine magnetics, hyperspectral imaging, acoustics, USBL positioning, plus an HPC/AI platform for multi-sensor data fusion and real-time decision support. ≈ 20% of budget
All components install in existing facilities — no construction required. Designed as open-access shared infrastructure for academic groups, start-ups, SMEs, and industry.
Geochemistry laboratory
Led by Prof. Dr. Andrea Koschinsky together with Prof. Dr. Michael Bau, a fully equipped trace and ultra-trace analytical facility co-located with OceanLab. It specialises in metals, metalloids, and organic matter in seawater, sediments, pore waters, and marine mineral resources.
Capabilities span the full workflow — from clean-lab sample preparation through automated pre-concentration (SeaFAST S2) to multi-element and speciation analysis by ICP-MS, ICP-OES, and voltammetry. This directly supports deep-sea monitoring, critical-metal characterisation, and MARFAB goals.
The lab contributes to GEOTRACES, JPI Oceans MiningImpact, and collaborations with MARUM, AWI, and GEOMAR.
Ultra-trace multi-element analysis; coupled with APEX interface and ESI.
Simultaneous multi-element determination in complex marine matrices.
Automated online trace-metal enrichment from seawater; sub-ppt limits in high-salinity matrices.
Trace-metal speciation, sensor development, and automated high-throughput voltammetric analysis.
Ion chromatography, organic-carbon analysis, photochemical destruction, and high-pressure acid digestion — all in metal-free clean workspaces.
Constructor Toolshop
OceanLab's in-house fabrication and prototyping facility — open to students, scientific staff, and research projects. Manufacturing services, hands-on training, and expert consultation, all under one roof in Ocean Lab / 15.
Martin Messmann
Tue–Wed 10:00–17:00
Thu–Fri 09:30–12:30
Emergency visits and interesting projects always welcome.
- ▸Manufacturing of components or complete experimental set-ups to specification
- ▸Repair of broken machines, instruments, and components
- ▸3D CAD components and assemblies; production drawings
- ▸Consulting on mechanical and manufacturing questions
- ▸Electronic circuit & PCB design; repair of electronic equipment
- ▸Procurement of non-standard materials and high-precision parts
- ▸Training in safe shop use, plus workspaces and lockable storage for student projects
Programmes supported by OceanLab
Hands-on research infrastructure, field training, and thesis supervision for three Constructor University degree programmes — spanning Earth sciences, autonomous robotics, and data-driven oceanography.
Earth Sciences & Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources
Interdisciplinary science (ESSMER) focused on Earth-surface processes and the sustainable management of water, soils, minerals, and energy. Chairs: Prof. Koschinsky & Prof. Unnithan. OceanLab supports geochemistry, field-lab, and thesis modules.
Robotics & Intelligent Systems
Engineering methods for autonomous mobile systems, with explicit application to marine technology. Students work with OceanLab's test basin, workshop, and crawler systems. Faculty include Prof. Maurelli. Supports the Marine Robotics specialization, RIS Lab, and theses.
Data Engineering
Acquiring large data collections, engineering pipelines, and extracting scientific insight. OceanLab provides a rich real-world data environment — multi-sensor oceanographic datasets, seafloor imagery, geochemical time-series — for the Geo-Informatics track.
Select publications
Over 90 peer-reviewed papers, spanning marine geochemistry, robotics, and deep-sea ecology, with OceanLab affiliations in Nature Ecology & Evolution, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Icarus, Frontiers in Marine Science, and Marine Pollution Bulletin — reflecting the continued output of OceanLab's current faculty alongside its founding research.
Partners & networks
Research Institutions
Industry & Spin-offs
Funding & Programmes
Team
Expertise in marine geophysics, geochemistry, robotics, and oceanography, with a long tradition of interdisciplinary collaboration and international partnerships.
Prof. Dr. Andrea Koschinsky
Prof. Dr. Vikram Unnithan
Prof. Dr. Michael Bau
Prof. Dr. Francesco Maurelli
Prof. Dr. Laurenz Thomsen
Martin Messmann
Contact OceanLab
Whether you're a researcher seeking collaborative access, an industry partner exploring technology services, a prospective student, or a school looking to connect remotely — we'd love to hear from you.
Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
Dr. Svenja Jäger · Head of Laboratory Services
Prof. Andrea Koschinsky · Constructor University
Prof. Francesco Maurelli · Constructor University
Prof. Vikram Unnithan · Constructor University
Martin Messmann · mmessmann@constructor.university · Tel +49 421 200 3554