Jahresbericht Nr. 23/1968 
132 
For the current determination of time and latitude, 2016 transits of 
fixed stars were observed during 88 nights with the photographic zenith 
telescope. Since 1 August, a caesium atomic clock is used as main clock 
of the Time Service. The accuracy of time-keeping was thereby increased 
by a factor of 100. 
The Wind Effect and Storm Surge Warning Service issued - apart from 
daily forecasts - 28 storm surge warnings and 1 warning of extremely low 
higbwater, the Ice Warning Service promulgated 115 Ice Reports and 8 Ice 
Warnings. The Nautical Warning Service made public by wireless 2,500 
notices to mariners. 
The services of the Department of Nautical Instruments were increasing 
ly demanded. In 1968, the Agencies in other ports and the Hamburg Depart 
ment tested or calibrated more than 60,000 instruments. The type tests 
prescribed by law were carried out, either at the Institute or on board 
its-vessels. Moreover, in co-operation with the Federal Ministry of 
Transport, regulations and conditions of admission were elaborated. 
In the German coastal waters of the North and Baltic Seas, 36 areas 
with a total of 10,000 nm were surveyed by the ships of the GHI. In 
addition, srs "Gauss" sounded a section of the Deep Draught Route that 
leads from the lightvessel P8 to the Pentland Firth, and further made 11 
cruises for scientific purposes. In the German coastal area and the 
offshore swept routes, the surveying and wreck-searching vessel "Wega" 
researched 26 wrecks and re-examined 83 wreck positions already known as 
well as 12 positions were wrecks were suspected. Furthermore, the surveying 
and wreck-searching vessel "Wega" systematically searched an area of 166 
nautical square miles for wrecks and underwater obstacles. 
For the first time, the GHI used small plastic speed boats of 6 m 
length for surveying purposes besides its vessels and launches. These 
boats proved very suitable. On 24 May 1968, the Jadewerft at Wilhelmshaven 
laid down the new survey and research vessel "Komet" (1,252 GET). Her 
speed will be 16 kn app. and she will be equipped with 6 plastic speed 
boats for parallel survey. 
The amount of work required to keep the charts up to date is increasing 
to an extent that it can no longer be accomplished on a national basis. 
Not only do more and more surveying data become available, additional 
work is required by the development of nave aids and by establishing 
Collision Preventing lanes and Deep Draught Routes. 
A study group of the International Hydrographic Organisation, the 
IHB Commission on the International Chart, is investigating into bringing 
about a greater uniformity of charts with scales smaller than 1: 1 million.