The Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut (DHI) in 1989 
133 
stead especially at the DHI. In 1958 he obtained his ScD in physics. In 1969 he took 
charge of the DHI’s Department of Nautische Technik, now Technische Schiffs 
sicherheit (safety of navigation). He headed the department until his appointment 
to the post of President of the DHI in 1974. 
For many years, Dr, Zickwolff represented the Federal Republic of Germany at 
international conferences and meetings - on sever al occasions as the head of the 
delegation or as the chairman of working groups. He attended meetings, for 
example, of the International Radio Consultative Committee of the International 
Telecommunication Union, the European Space Agency and the International 
Maritime Organization. In May 1987, he was elected President of the International 
Hydrographic Conference in Monaco. He was Chairman of the North Sea Hydro- 
graphic Commission and was one of the founders of the Baltic Sea Hydrographic 
Commission. Above all, he did much to bring about the establishment of interna 
tional standards for nautical instruments and navigation equipment; he also took 
a keen interest in the groundwork for an international maritime satellite system. 
He was actively involved in the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ortung und Navigation 
e.V ” (“German Society of Navigation”) since its inception and was its Chairman for 
many years. In addition, he was a member of the Advisory Board of the “Nor 
menausschuß Einheiten und Formelgrößen” (“Standardization Committee for 
Units”) in the “Deutsches Institut für Normung” (“German Standardization Insti 
tute”); the “Nautische Vereine” in Bremen and Hamburg; the “Deutsche 
Physikalische Gesellschaft” (“German Physical Society”); the “Senatskommission 
für Ozeanographie der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft” (“Senate Commission 
for Oceanography of the German Research Society”) and the “Technisch-Wis 
senschaftlicher Beirat” (“Technological Advisory Board”) of the “GKSS 
Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH” (“GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht”), He 
is co-author and co-editor of the “Handbuch für die Schißsführung” (Navigation 
Manual) by Müller/Krauß. 
Dr. Ehlers was born in Flensburg in 1943. After studying law and taking his 
doctor’s degree, his career began in 1970 when he became head of the Maritime 
Traffic Department (North Sea and Baltic) at the Waterways Authority in Kiel. In 
1973 he moved to the Maritime Department of the Federal Ministry of Transport in 
Hamburg, Between 1981 and 1983 Dr. Ehlers was head of Central Administration 
Department at the DHI, In 1983 he was given charge of the Oceanography, Hydro 
graphy, Environmental Protection and Radio Safety at sea section in the Federal 
Ministry of Transport and thus of the DHI as a whole. In 1988 he was appointed 
Permanent Deputy of the Head of the Maritime Department of the Federal Ministry 
of Transport, Dr. Ehlers has gained much international experience in this capacity. 
He participated in the First and Second International Conferences on the Protec 
tion of the North Sea, chaired many different working groups and lead the German 
delegation in the International Maritime Organization’s Committee for the Protec 
tion of the Marine Environment, in the Oslo and Helsinki Commissions as well as in 
the Consultative Meeting of the London Convention. Between 1984 and 1986 he 
was Chairman of the Helsinki Commission. He is a member of the “Bund/Länd 
erausschuß Nord- und Ostsee” and is active in the Supervisory Committees of 
several research institutes. Dr. Ehlers is Deputy Chairman of the “Deutsche 
Gesellschaft für Ortung und Navigation e.V.” and is a member of the “Ober 
prüfungsamt für den höheren technischen Verwaltungsdienst”. For many years he 
was responsible for training junior lawyers and also worked as an honorary judge 
in the Labour Court in Hamburg. 
After many years of service as head of Central Administration Department, Senior 
Director Wolfgang Huber moved to the Waterways Authority in Hanover on 30 June 
1989. Senior Director Diether Roth, previously in the Federal Ministry of Transport 
and the Waterways Authority in Kiel, succeeded him.