35 years of BSH: Marine research in Rostock celebrates records and progress!

35 years of BSH: Marine research in Rostock celebrates records and progress!

On October 2, 2025, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) will look back on 35 years of successful work. Older seafarers know exactly: The threads that guarantee safety and order on German waters have been pulled together here. At the Rostock location, the famous research vessel Deneb is used for important tasks - from seabed surveys to searching for shipwrecks. These activities are only a small part of the comprehensive mission of the BSH, which emerged in 1990 from the German Hydrographic Institute in Hamburg and the Maritime Hydrographic Service in Rostock.

The BSH, which operates in both Hamburg and Rostock, has made it its mission to create nautical charts. These maps are essential for shipping safety. The allocation of offshore wind energy areas is also the responsibility of the authority and shows how important energy production from renewable sources is in Germany.

Storm surges and climate change

A number of storm surges have already been recorded on the German North Sea coast this season. During the 2023/2024 season there were 13, including some with extreme values, such as the storm surge on December 21, 2023, which was measured at 978 cm above normal levels. The 2024/2025 season has already begun with several storm surges, which are once again posing challenges to coastal communities.

The BSH also recorded a marine heat wave of a previously unknown duration of 55 days in 2025, which supports the research results on the frequency of such extreme weather events. According to the authority, measurements show that such phenomena will occur more and more frequently - a development that can be attributed to advancing climate change.

The role of the oceans

But what does that mean for our oceans? These vast bodies of water are not only a habitat for over two million species, but they also have a stabilizing effect on the climate system, store heat and regulate the weather. The Federal Ministry of Research and Technology (BMFTR) has therefore taken it upon itself to deepen the understanding of the role of the oceans in climate change through targeted research projects. Particular attention is paid to the effects of climate change on coastal regions as well as to biological diversity and human supply.

The German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) brings together the know-how of over 20 marine research institutions in Germany and is actively committed to coastal protection and the sustainable use of the oceans. Projects like CDRmare and sustainMare aim to find innovative solutions to the challenges posed by climate change.

Open day in Rostock

To mark its 35th anniversary, the BSH opens its doors on German Unity Day. On Friday, October 3rd, anyone interested can visit the BSH's impressive research ships in Rostock between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This opportunity is best used to gain a deeper insight into marine research and experience first-hand the advances of the last 35 years.

In summary, it can be said that the BSH is a central maritime authority in Germany with around 1,000 employees. The combination of science and practical application in shipping ensures a lively exchange between theory and practice, which is urgently needed in a world increasingly characterized by extreme climatic events. The challenges that storm surges bring with them are also an important issue that needs to be addressed.

For anyone who is interested in the future of our oceans and would like to make a contribution to protecting proven ecosystems, now is the right time to get to know the actors and initiatives better.

Information on this could be found at [NDR](https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/rostock/bundesamt-fuer-seeschifffahrt-und-hydrografie- Feiert-35-jaehriges-beesten,mvregiorostock-1128.html), [BSH].