The German Hydrographic Institute in the years 1970 and 1971 
137 
The research- and survey vessel “Gauß“ undertook 30 cruises in 
the North Sea and the Baltic which were devoted to current measurements, sedi 
ment investigations, control of the pollution and radioactivity in sea water as well 
as to type testing of radio navigation equipment. 
Some 30000 nautical miles of sounding lines were run by the 
survey- and research vessel “Komet“, the survey vessel “Süderoog“, and the 
survey- and wreck searching vessel “Atair“ in the North Sea and the Baltic. During 
the 2 years under review, wreck searching and -checking operations were carried 
out to the usual extent. 
In a special operation in September and October 1970, the SRV “Komet“ stated 
strong magnetic anomalies in 11 positions at the southern entrance to the Little 
Belt which without any doubt were generated by dumped or sunken iron parts; 
during consecutive search operations carried out on behalf of authorities of the 
Federal Republic and the Land Schleswig-Holstein, gas ammunition was retrieved 
in most of these places from the bottom of the sea. 
In August and September 1971, the SRV “Komet“ made soundings of the bottom 
of the sea in the area of the Iceland- Jan-Mayen- Ridge, thus providing the data for 
the compilation of fisheries- and nautical charts, as well as for the International 
General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans. In connection with these soundings and 
with the financial support given by the German Research Association, the gravi 
metric and magnetic survey of this tectonically interesting area around Iceland was 
continued. During several previous cruises, the “Meteor“ had begun these studies 
south of Iceland. 
The SRV “Komet“ and her six survey boats were equipped with instruments for 
automatic recording of soundings and positions. 
For the automation of programmable cartographic work, an electronically con 
trolled drafting table with a small computer was purchased. Keeping the charts 
up-to-date is, in spite of generalizing and rationalizing, becoming more and more 
difficult: The number of our own sounding data is continuously increasing, and so 
is the number of the data shown on foreign charts that are sent to this institute 
which have to be incorporated into the German charts. There is also a steady 
increase in the request for charts: During the last two years under review more 
than 500 000 charts were sold. 
The work of supplementing or preparing new editions of some 70 German 
nautical books was continued. The number of printed copies of our Notices 
to Mariners that are issued weekly had to be increased to 4500. During the last 
two years under review, a total of 1 338 665 nautical books and other GHI publi 
cations were delivered. 
An ever increasing number of voluntary cooperators are supporting the work of 
the GHI by providing nautical reports. For outstanding merits, two cooperators 
were awarded the bronze SEEWART medal. The former president of the GHI, 
Dr. G. Zwiebler, was awarded the silver SEEWART medal on 8 July 1970. 
On 6 November 1970, the President of the Directing Committee of the International 
Hydrographic Organisation, Admiral G. J. C h ate I, visited the GHI. It is the task 
of the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) to co 
ordinate the cooperation of the national hydrographic services. 
The North Sea Hydrographic Commission of the IHO convened in Oslo in May 
1970 where the GHI submitted four cotidal charts of the North Sea south of 56° N. 
These charts had been prepared on the basis of observations made by all member 
states on behalf of the Commission in order to improve the reduction of Deep