Germany addresses maritime standards and marine protection

At a ceremony in Rostock, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) marked the centenary of Germany's membership in the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). BSH President Helge Heegewaldt emphasized the necessity of international cooperation and shared standards to ensure maritime safety, noting that oceans do not respect national borders.

The IHO establishes global standards for sea surveying and chart production. A new standard, ‘S-100’, is set to create a framework for next-generation digital nautical charts by integrating depth, water levels, and currents with real-time data to enhance navigation.

Separately, the environmental organization BUND has criticized Germany's marine protection efforts ahead of an upcoming European Court of Auditors report. While 45 percent of Germany's North and Baltic Sea areas are officially protected, BUND expert Isabelle Maus described the current measures as a ‘patchwork’ that fails to meet domestic goals. The organization is calling for a total ban on bottom trawling within all marine protected areas to ensure effective conservation.