The DHI in the years 1972 and 1973 
157 
world-wide collection of geochemical parameters in the ocean; besides, this 
cruise 32 served for trials of newly developed data logging instruments for 
GATE (GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment). 
The survey- and research vessel "Gauß" undertook thirty-two cruises in the 
North Sea and the Baltic for current measurements, for investigations of sedi 
ments, for control of pollution and radioactivity in marine water, and for type 
tests of radio navigation equipment. 
A total of 29 911 n. m. of sounding lines were run by the vessels "Komet" 
and “ Süderoog“ in the North Sea and the Baltic which, in 1972, served 
among other things for the survey of the new Deep Draught Route in the German 
Bight and the widening of the Pentland Route. 
During the two years under review, " A t a i r " and "Wega“ examined 147 
known wrecks; 71 new wrecks were detected, especially on searching the Deep 
Draught Route in the German Bight. 
Modernisation and updating of the German Chart Portfolio (about 
1000 charts) was continued. The possibility of exchanging reproduction material 
with other countries was further extended by an agreement with France: Now 
French charts of the Bay of Biscay and of the Mediterranean can be reproduced 
—• after minor modifications — as German charts. Publication of Loran-C charts 
for the North Atlantic was started in 1973. 
526 000 charts and more than one million nautical publications (nautical books 
and periodicals, cf. paragraph D. I.) were distributed in the two years under 
review. 
The about seventy German nautical books were updated by New Editions 
or Supplements. A revised edition of the "Monatskarten für den Südatlantischen 
Ozean" (Pilot charts for the South Atlantic Ocean) appeared in 1972, 4500 copies 
in 1972, and 4200 copies in 1973 were printed of the weekly "Nachrichten für 
Seefahrer". As in previous years, a great number of nautical reports were re 
ceived from voluntary cooperators. For outstanding merits the bronze Seewart 
medal was awarded to four of them. 
The tide service, the service for water level forecasts, the storm surge warning 
service, the ice service, the geomagnetic service, and the time service were 
carried out as usual. 
Since 1 January 1972, the time signals emitted by the DHI are based on 
an internationally adopted atomic time. This time runs down very uniformly 
and precedes the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) because the rotation of the Earth 
decreases. The signals will, however, depart from GMT — with which the 
"Nautisches Jahrbuch" has to be entered — by not more than 0.7 sec as time 
signals are stepped back by one second about once a year. Based on the astro 
nomical time determinations of the national services, the Bureau International de 
l'Heure, Paris, decides when this is to be done. 
In addition to the radar station in Cuxhaven and the ships reporting service in 
Hamburg, the radar stations Bremerhaven and Knock are now also receiving 
forecasts of high and low water for their respective estuaries. The forecasts are 
promulgated every two hours via VHF in the reports of the radar stations. With 
the ever increasing draughts of ships greater accuracy is required in water