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43. Jahresbericht Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut 1988 
For sea-going vessels under the flag of the Federal Republic of Germany, the DHI 
tests industrially manufactured nautical systems, pieces of equipment, and instru 
ments of shipborne equipment for their suitability for shipborne operation and 
their safe function on board. The type of 37 nautical systems, pieces of equipment, 
and instruments of the shipborne equipment were tested and approved. 
In recent years, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has concerned 
itself with essential improvements of the Search and Rescue System. At the sugges 
tion of the Federal Republic of Germany, on the basis of the Revision of Chapter III 
of the SOLAS Convention (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) 
liferafts and inflatable liferafts must be equipped with radar reflectors which - in 
material and shape - must conform with the liferafts. For that, the DHI has 
investigated the efficacy of radar reflectors. 
The total budget comprised DM 6.3 million revenues and DM 82.2 million expendi 
tures. About 750 members of the staff were employed.