The Van Veen Grab Sampler is an instrument to sample sediment in the ocean.

In the sub-littoral and deep water some form of grab (like the Van Veen Grab Sampler) is required, although a fine mesh (about 0.25 mm or less) would work also.

The ship is equipped with standard sampling devices: You may find on board a demersal trawl, a Van Veen Grab Sampler, Niskin bottles, and even deprecated reversing thermometers for teaching purposes.

Simple predecessors of devices to take sediment samples from vessels which are still in use (e.g. in studies of freshwater sediments and benthic communities) include the Van Veen Grab Sampler and the Ponar grab.