The Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut (PHI) in 1985
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4 GENERAL REPORT
THE DEUTSCHES HYDROGRAPHISCHES INSTITUT (DHI) IN 1985
The DHI is a Central Marine Navigation and Marine Environment Authority
within the jurisdiction of the Federal Minister of Transport. It has the
task of surveying the seas, publishing the charts and nautical books,
and testing the nautical equipment used on board ship. Moreover, it has
to promote navigation and High Seas fisheries by natural scientific and
nautical-technical research, and to ensure the protection of the marine
environment.
The total budget comprised DM 7.3 million revenues and DM 84.2 million
expenditures.
The Hydrographic Services (Tide, Sea Level Forecast and Storm Surge
Warning Service, Ice Service, Time Service for Shipping, Geomagnetic
Service) again fulfilled their tasks for the safety of navigation.
Particular demands were placed upon the Ice Service at the beginning of
the year, owing to the great winter abundance of ice.
The Research Vessel "Meteor”, managed by the DHI and used this year
solely by the DHI, undertook the research cruises 70 to 73. On the
voyages 70 and 72, investigations concerning the clarification of the
spreading and mixing of different harmful substances in the near-bottom
layers were continued. The 71st voyage concentrated upon radiological
and hydrographical investigations, for the environmental protection
tasks of the DHI, in the northern North Atlantic. On the 73rd, and
thereby the last research cruise for the Federal Republic of Germany,
marine technical pieces of equipment were tested, and monitoring work
and oceanographic investigations were carried out in the North Sea and
the Baltic Sea. In November, the R.V. "Meteor" was sold to New Zealand,
and at the end of the year was handed over to the Shipping Corporation
of New Zealand Ltd., Wellington, which will also operate her as a
research vessel in the future under the name of "Rapuhia".
The Research Vessel "Gauß" - during 16 voyages - monitored, as routine,
the seawater for injurious impurities, and carried out oceanographic,
geological, and geophysical investigations in the North Sea and the
Baltic Sea as well as type-testing. Moreover, one new wreck was discovered,
20 known wrecks were checked.
The Survey and Research Ship "Komet" and the Survey Ship "Siideroog" ran
circa 28,000 nautical miles of soundings in the North Sea and the Baltic
Sea for the hydrographic survey.
For wreck search and control, the Survey and Wreck Search Ship "Atair"
and "Wega" have checked 104 already known wrecks and positions at which
submarine hindrances were suspected in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea,
and thereby found 18 new wrecks.
Four Pilots were published in new editions, which replace six old
editions. Ten nautical books were brought up-to-date by means of Supplements.
In addition, the nautical book for merchand ships "Suche und
