The Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut (PHI) in 1981 
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5 GENERAL REPORT 
THE DEUTSCHES HYDROGRAPHISCHES INSTITUT (DHI) IN 1981 
The DHI Is a Central Marine Navigation and Marine Environment Authority 
within the jurisdiction of the Federal Minister of Transport. It has the 
tasks 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 Hydrographic Services (Tide, Sea Level Forecast and Storm Surge 
Warning Service, Ice Service, Time Service for Shipping, Geomagnetic 
Service) also fulfilled their tasks for the safety of navigation 
during the year under review. The Storm Surge Warning Service has 
again proved its value, as is evidenced by the very severe storm surge 
on 24th November. 
As in the previous years, the chart portfolio was particularly drawn 
upon, with 20 "new tasks”, owing to the change-over of the navigation 
marks in the buoyage system A (red on port). 
In 1981 there were four new editions of Pilots and one Ocean Pilot. For 
the Verzeichnis der Leuchtfeuer und Signalstellen (List of Lights and 
Signal Positions), seven parts were published as new editions. Moreover, 
38 "new charts" and 192 "new issues" of charts appeared. By direction of 
the Federal Minister of Transport, new information booklets for sports- 
boat navigation were issued. 
The navigation marks of the Federal German coasts have been integrated 
on electronic data carriers, and can be displayed automatically for the 
production of the print originals. The cartographic contents of the 
charts were digitalized. For sports boat navigation, a further special 
chart portfolio with 17 "Charts of the Weser and Jade from Helgoland to 
Bremen and Wilhelmshaven" was issued, together with an accompanying 
booklet. 
The Survey and Research Ship "Komet" and the Survey Ship "Siideroog" ran 
14,700 nautical miles of lines of sounding in the North Sea and the Bal 
tic Sea to maintain the charts of the Federal German waters. The two 
ships, "Atair" and "Wega", fitted out with light diving equipment, have 
checked 120 already known wrecks and positions at which submarine hin 
drances were suspected, and found 35 new wrecks. The Research Vessel 
"Gaufl”, with 19 cruises in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, provided 
contributions to natural scientific investigations, type-approval tests, 
and equipment trials.