Visual observations of sea-ice conditions were performed hourly from the bridge of Polarstern. The observations followed the ASSIST protocol.Observer team: Anique Stecher, Ben Lange, Carmen David, Charlie Thuroczy, Catherine Lalande, Christian Katlein, Christiane Uhlig, Daniel Scholz, Eva Kirschenmann, Hauke Flores, Heidi Soerensen, Hendrik Sander, Ilka Peeken, Kerstin Oetjen, Larysa Istomina, Mar Fernandez Mendez, Marcel Nicolaus, Marie Le Guitton, Martin Schiller, Muntsa Roca, Raquel Somavilla, Renate Degen, Scott Sorensen, Sebastian Albrecht, Stefan Hendricks, Stefanie Rettig, Thomas Krumpen, Viena Puigcorbe