6 
Eine Bestätigung der Bedeutung unserer Arbeit sehen wir in dem 2006 
vorgelegten Grünbuch der Europäischen Kommission zur künftigen Meerespolitik. 
In dem darin verfolgten ganzheitlichen und integrativen Ansatz spiegeln sich 
die umfassenden Aufgaben des BSH wider, das mit seiner Verantwortlichkeit 
für Schifffahrt, Umwelt und maritime Wirtschaft der „Prototyp“ einer zentralen 
Meeresbehörde ist - wie auf den folgenden Seiten zum Ausdruck kommt. 
PREFACE The oceans are gaining in importance. They are subjected to a large range of 
novel uses offering an enormous potential for growth. The international shipping 
trade is in full swing. There has been an increase in offshore activities, also along 
our coasts. This includes offshore wind farm development projects in the German 
Exclusive Economic Zone, which will boost the share of renewable energies in 
Germany’s energy supply. 
The goal of using the oceans without abusing them requires careful balancing 
among economic, social, and ecological interests in each individual case, in 
compliance with the principle of sustainability. Also global climate change should 
not be left out of sight because its impacts have become more tangible - and 
have been confirmed by measurements. Scientific monitoring carried out by 
the BSH has provided evidence that the North Sea today is 1.7 °C warmer than 
it was in 1993. This will not be without effect - also with respect to future use of 
the oceans. With its comprehensive marine data base and model simulations, 
the BSH will contribute to the development of suitable adaptive strategies for 
shipping, the offshore industry, the marine environment, and coastal protection. 
The BSH has always been open to new challenges. Thanks to its dedicated and 
highly qualified workforce, it has coped successfully with a whole spectrum of 
new tasks without neglecting its traditional responsibilities. It has to be admitted, 
though, that it will be next to impossible for us to compensate any additional 
budget and personnel reductions. To continue being a successful provider of 
maritime services, which requires accuracy of work, reliability, and the ability to 
meet new challenges, cutbacks in the BSH’s traditional range of tasks may be 
inevitable. 
We see the importance of our work confirmed by the European Commission’s 
Green Book on Maritime Policy, which was presented in 2006. The holistic and 
integrative approach of the Green Book is reflected in the wide range of tasks 
performed by the BSH, whose responsibility for a large variety of interests in 
shipping, the environment, and maritime industry is a typical feature of a central 
maritime authority - as will be seen on the following pages.