During my 35 years of chemical analyses on board, research ships changed from sample collectors to versatile laboratories. For dissolved chemicals like Cl- and O2 standardized methods by titration had been developed already before 1900; for major nutrients determined by colometry this ocurred from the 1930´s onwards. The ICES played an important role in dissemination of the methods as well as in intercalibration programs to make results of different laboratories comparable with ever increasing accuracy.

In the 1960´s plastic bottles became available for sampling deep waters, and, together with new methods for trace elements, most metals could be analyzed. All naturally occurring elements on the planet have now been found in sea water. For many elements involved in biological processes (e.g. major nutrients but also Fe, Mn, ...) one wants to know seasonal and regional variations down to very low levels, nanomolar concentrations. This requires ultraclean working conditions, difficult onboard ships. Many types of investigations are easier in laboratories in standardized sea containers and nowadays research ships have ample places to connect these containers with the water and energy supplies. Not only for ultraclean work, but also for precise temperature control and for walk-in fridges, containerized laboratories are simpler to construct than rebuilding the ship´s interior.

Widespread use of CTD-sensors in the last quarter of the 20th century changed measurements of salinity from chemical to physical properties. This means – with necessary attention for accuracy – that salinity can be reliably measured with an extra decimal. The two decimals, attainable previously allowed to describe the deep circulation in the ocean in general terms. The third decimal opens the possiblity of a new field of research: trends in salinity changes, which, together with temperatures could predict subtle changes in the circulation due to climatic change.

These new techniques not only increased the scope and accuracy of marine chemistry, but also the speed of obtaining results on board. Interpretation and even publication can start at sea; preliminary papers being sent by e-mail. Seagoing research changed fast, but also the stress increased: the equipment has to work and more specialized technicians are in the crew.

New equipment like submersibles, both manned and remotely operated created completely new subjects: deep-sea vents with their unheard-of living communities. Sensors attached to buoys, anchored to the sea bottom give seasonality of the measured properties. New vehicles and new detection methods are in general developed in research areas with hardly limited budgets like space, defence or health, but adapted for use in oceanography.