The Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut (DHI) in 1978 and 1979 
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5 GENERAL REPORT 
THE DEUTSCHES HYDROGRAPHISCHES INSTITUT (OHI) IN 1978 AND 1979 
In 1978 a reorganisation of the DHI took place by merging and restructuring of 
departments. It now comprises the special departments Oceanography (M), Nauti 
cal Publications, Surveying and Charts (N), Ship Safety Techniques (T), and the 
central department (Z), handling the administrative work connected with these 
departments. 
12 new editions of the DHI's pilots, 34 supplements and the handbook „Für 
Brücke und Kartenhaus" appeared in 1978/79, The DHI published the description 
„Klima und Wetter im Mittelmeer" as a reprint from Part III of the Mediterranean 
pilot. Furthermore the booklets „Winterbetonnung der Küstengewässer der Bun 
desrepublik Deutschland**, the „Nautisches Jahrbuch oder Ephemeriden und Ta 
feln für das Jahr 1979" and the same for 1980 were issued. 12 parts of the „Ver 
zeichnis der Leuchtfeuer und Signalstellen" also appeared. 3900 copies of the 
„Nachrichten für Seefahrer" were printed, containing several supplements: infor 
mation about buoyage system ,A" was given in special supplements. Thanks are 
here extended to the numerous captains and officers who supported the DHI’s 
work with nautical reports. 
For ships not compulsorily equipped with any nautical documents, the DHI pu 
blished the .Jachtfunkdienst Mittelmeer", the .Jachtfunkdienst Nord- und Ost 
see” and the tables „Wetter und Wamfunk“. 
Work on the International Set of Charts was also continued in 1978/79. The series 
of charts to scales of 1:3.5 million and 1:10 million were taken over almost in their 
entirety, and the guidelines elaborated by the NSICC*) for the medium-scale and 
large-scale international charts were further developed. Charts were drawn auto 
matically by the Institute’s data processing equipment for the first time in 1978. 
The number of charts with printed hyperbole grids was increased. Considerable 
additional work on the set of charts was caused by the introduction of the 
buoyage system „A“ (red on port side). Initial discussions with the Seehydrogra 
phischer Dienst of the German Democratic Republic concerning the impending 
laying of new buoys in the Baltic took place in Rostock in 1978. One year later the 
Head of the Seehydrographischer Dienst and several colleagues returned the vi 
sit by coming to Hamburg. 
In the graphic department the changeover from metallic type setting and printing 
to text processing by means of phototype setting began, and the first metallic 
type setting machine was replaced by phototype setting equipment. 
For hydrographic surveying, approximately 33,500 nautical miles of sounding li 
nes were run by the survey and research vessel „Komet” and the survey vessel 
„Süderoog“ in the North Sea and the Baltic. The survey aqd wreck searching ves 
sels ,Atalr" and „Wega” examined 220 known wrecks in these seas as well as posi 
tions where the presence of underwater obstructions was suspected. 28 previously 
*) North Sea International Chart Commission