[2][3] A new geoscientific research ship, also called RV Sonne, replaced her role in Germany that same year.

[4] Rickmers Werft built Sonne in 1969 as a stern trawler and delivered her to Hochseefischerei Nordstern.

Sonne was converted for use in a scientific exploration role by Schichau Unterweser AG in 1977 and by Rickmers Werft in 1978.

[citation needed] She was sold to the Argentinian institute CONICET for € 5.150.000 and she arrived in the Argentine Navy naval base at Mar del Plata in February 2015.

[2][3] Sonne appears in Frank Schätzing's novel The Swarm in connection with methane measurements off the Norwegian coast.