diff --git a/docker-compose/lofar-device-base/Dockerfile b/docker-compose/lofar-device-base/Dockerfile
index 34dde933732b08f6986149210fa9a497fb371737..2cc3aeb197bc6428e607d0bd8ec4f2dcfa475155 100644
--- a/docker-compose/lofar-device-base/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker-compose/lofar-device-base/Dockerfile
@@ -6,5 +6,11 @@ RUN sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y git && sudo apt-get clean
 COPY lofar-requirements.txt /lofar-requirements.txt
 RUN sudo pip3 install -r /lofar-requirements.txt
 
+# install and use ephimerides and geodetic ("measures") tables for casacore
+RUN sudo mkdir -p /opt/IERS && sudo chmod a+rwx /opt/IERS
+RUN IERS_DIRNAME=IERS-`date +%FT%T` && mkdir -p /opt/IERS/${IERS_DIRNAME} && ln -sfT /opt/IERS/${IERS_DIRNAME} /opt/IERS/current
+RUN cd /opt/IERS/current && curl ftp://ftp.astron.nl/outgoing/Measures/WSRT_Measures.ztar | tar xz
+COPY casarc /home/tango/.casarc
+
 ENV TANGO_LOG_PATH=/var/log/tango
 RUN sudo mkdir -p /var/log/tango && sudo chmod a+rwx /var/log/tango
diff --git a/docker-compose/lofar-device-base/casarc b/docker-compose/lofar-device-base/casarc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..78e7a19ed26fd4aa5b2fd7aad6f0b3bd4179f6f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose/lofar-device-base/casarc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+measures.directory: /opt/IERS/current