For a wide range of research activities, the ICBM disposes of a time series station near the southwestern tip of the island of Spiekeroog as well as several specially equipped research boats for research on shallow seas and coastal zones. Besides these research platforms the scientists of the institute have access to several research vessels of the German research fleet for investigations in the marine environment on a global scale.

The Deep Sea Research Vessel "SONNE", brought into service in 2014, has the ICBM site Wilhelmshaven as its port of registry, bearing the institute's logo on its funnel as an expression of relatedness.

More profound information on the time series station and the research water crafts is available on the following pages.