General Development: of the G.H.I. during 1954
Seite 71
has not yet been released 4 ^ . The computing work for 2 more Decca charts - D.
49 and D. 61 - was completed.
Due to the increased demand for charts of the German coasts showing the
new buoyage system, the turnover rose from 74 000 to 90 000 copies wherefrom
15 per cent were supplied to foreign countries.
It is recorded, with thanks, that the Coastal Engineering and Shipping
Authorities "Wasser- und Schiffahrt-Direktionen" placed again this year
data at our disposal relating to home waters.
According to the surveying plan of the G.H.I. for the year 1954, the
surveying vessels worked only in the following areas: "Estuary of E. Elbe,
offshore foreland from Luechter Loch up to Brunsbüttelkoog", "Norder- and
Süderpiep", "Außen- and Inneneider", "Schmaltief", "Hummelloch", "Süderaue",
"Landtief", "Hütergat" and "Borkum-Riff" whilst in the Baltic merely the
region between Schleimünde and Eckernförder Bucht could be surveyed.
The surveying of the areas seaward from the 10-m depth contour off the
North Frisian Islands and in front of the estuaries of E. Eider, R. Hever
and E. Elbe were always subject till now to special difficulties, as the. nor
mal visibility for measurements by double angle lies approximately at the
10-m depth contour. Decca replaces here with an almost equal rate of accuracy
the usual aids such as deep-sea buoys triangulation etc.
The surveying tasks in the Baltic were likewise dispatched with the aid
of Decca.
In spite of the long-lasting bad weather situation that prevailed in
summer, the total of more than 8 000 km of sounding profiles run even sur
passed a little last year's accomplishment. This comparatively higher effi
ciency was attained by the installation of recording sonic depth finders
onboard the surveying ships and launches and by using the above mentioned
Decca method which renders surveying operations to a larger extent indepen
dent from low visibility.
In addition to her surveying activities, surveying and research ship
"Gauss" carried out. all together 5 research cruises and trial trips
serving partly the continuation of oceanographic or seismic-geological work
in the North Sea and Baltic, the testing of nautico-technical instruments
and the conduction of experiments with radio aids to navigation.
The wreck-searching boats "Atair" and "Wega" worked in the North Sea
and Baltic preponderantly in the nearer coastal areas and official mine
swept routes, river estuaries and areas to be surveyed and ascertained again
23 new wreck positions. Furthermore, numerous wrecks, having been deter-
+) Meanwhile the German chain was released from 1 April 1955; transmitting
hours daily from 8 to 20” h M.G.Z.
