Bremerhaven water level indicator
The Bremerhaven water level indicator is located at the southern end of the Weser dike in Mitte (Bremerhaven) . He informed ship guides about the tide level of the Weser estuary. Like the Mayor Smidt Memorial Church and the "Lange Heinrich" in the past , the water level indicator is (again) the landmark of Bremerhaven.
history
The almost 32 meter high steel lattice structure is the only remaining historical structure of its kind on the German Bight . After its renovation in 1978, it was included in the list of monuments of the state of Bremen.
The indicator, built in 1903, showed the current water level of the Weser above sea chart zero until 1973 . During the day were for this purpose on the northern side of the yard used balls and cones at night happened the transmission with lanterns on the southern side of the yard. Each drawn up red cone meant 20 cm and each red ball 1 meter of water level as well as each white light 20 cm and each red light 1 meter of water level in relation to the local chart zero . An additional signal arm on top of the mast was on - or water running to and backwaters. At night, one green light stood for running water and two green lights for running water and the red-red-white light for standstill.
The balls and pins were initially set by hand with a crank mechanism, later with an electric motor, whereby the signals were then triggered by the writing level at the old outer harbor . In certain water levels of the signal guards informed the fire department so that they, the gate valve of the opening into the Geestebrücke Stadtsiele could close or open.
Today's meaning
With the introduction of radio technology, the water level indicator lost its importance for seafaring and was therefore taken out of service in 1973. Until 1990, the mast was used to announce fairway closures and shipping obstructions. After that, the functionless mast was maintained by the Bremerhaven Waterways and Shipping Authority until 1996 . Since 1998 it has been assigned to the German Maritime Museum (DSM) as a technical monument . Therefore, the water level indicator is sometimes only "ornament" because the computer control does not always work. The level sensor in the Geeste outer harbor is functional, however, the data is published on the Internet by the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration .
literature
- Dirk Peters : The reactivation of the former water level indicator in Bremerhaven . Deutsche Schiffahrt 2/2001, pp. 23–25.
Web links
- 100th anniversary of the VDI Unterweser district association - water level indicator
- Master data of the level on the Internet
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 53 ° 32 ′ 16.8 ″ N , 8 ° 34 ′ 40.4 ″ E