Wasser- und Schifffahrtsamt

The Waterways and Shipping Offices (WSA ) in Germany are part of the organizational structure of the Waterways and Shipping Administration of the Federation. There are currently in Germany 39 Waterways and Shipping Offices with a total of 143 suburbs (as of March 2005).

Position in the organization structure

The Waterways and Shipping Offices are local authorities and form the sub- instance. You are the General waterways and shipping downstream since May 1, 2013, which reports in turn to the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development ( BMVBS).

Responsibilities

Waterway area

In the infrastructure sector, the Waterways and Shipping Offices sovereignty following tasks for the Water and Shipping Administration Federal perceive:

  • Maintenance and operation of the federal waterways as well as the state-owned shipping facilities
  • Perception of current police tasks
  • Setting and operation of aids to navigation
  • Water Level Information
  • Ice control

Inland waterways

According to the law on the federal tasks in the field of inland water and maritime administrations sovereignty following tasks for the Water and Shipping Administration Federal perceive:

  • Promotion of inland fleet and inland waterway
  • Threats to the safety and efficiency of navigation and the prevention of shipping outbound threats ( Maritime Police ) and harmful effects on the environment within the meaning of the Federal Pollution Control Act
  • Granting of permission to drive on federal waterways for boats

Maritime

According to the law on the federal tasks in the field of maritime navigation, Waterways and Shipping Offices sovereignty following tasks for the Water and Shipping Administration Federal perceive:

  • Promotion of the German merchant fleet and the provision for the preservation of the efficiency of seaports
  • Threats to the safety and efficiency of navigation and the prevention of maritime outbound threats ( Maritime Police ) and harmful effects on the environment within the meaning of the Federal Pollution Control Act
  • Seaward limit of the territorial sea, river police, elimination of threats and the removal of disturbances to public order or safety
  • Measures to ensure fulfillment of the duties assigned to the federal government in the field of maritime transport due to other regulations

Others

The staff of the entire Waterways and Shipping Administration (including the higher authorities ) includes around 13,000 people (2006 ) and is subject for several years a constant reduction of 1.5% per year.

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