President and Heads of Department

Monika Breuch-Moritz, President
On 1 October 2008, Mrs. Monika Breuch-Moritz took office as new President of Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany). Mrs. Breuch-Moritz, a meteorologist by profession, last headed the section "Climate Change and Environmental Policy in Maritime Shipping" at the Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs. Important decisions taken during her tenure were the establishment of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas in the North and Baltic Seas, the adoption of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, and the introduction of stricter emission limits in maritime transport, which is one of her major concerns.

Dr. Bernd Brügge, Head of Marine Sciences
The department comprises five divisions whose wide range of activities includes forecasting services, ocean monitoring programmes, special databases, marine research, approval procedures and spatial planning in Germany's Exclusive Economic Zone with a view to ensuring protection and sustainable management of the oceans, supporting shipping and marine research, and providing protection against storm surges.

Dr. Mathias Jonas, Head of Nautical Hydrography
The department comprising four divisions represents the hydrographic service of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Hydrographic Surveying and Marine Geodesy division is responsible for surveys and wreck search in the German sea areas, which extend from Germany's border with the Netherlands to the Polish maritime boundary. The Nautical Information Service division comprises the cartographic and nautical editing of official nautical charts and publications. The Graphic Technology division is in charge of production and printing using latest printing technology. Ships and Equipment is responsible for operating the BSH's five research and survey vessels.

Christoph Brockmann, Head of Maritime Shipping
The department provides services to mariners, shipping companies, and shipyards and has a wide range of tasks, for example funding of training places on ships, co-operation in international shipping organisations, maritime security, and market surveillance of navigational equipment.

Rainer Fröhlich, Head of Central Services
The principal task of the department, which consists of three divisions, is the provision of a range of services enabling the operating departments to fulfill their tasks. It is in charge of, e.g., personnel and budget matters, organisation, internal infrastructure, IT services and the computer centre, as well as general and central legal matters.