Establishment of new Centre for Ship Signature Management - Germany and the Netherlands to Cooperate in Maritime Research
On 30 July 2008, the Vice-President of the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement Dipl.-Ing. Stein and the Director, Weapon Systems of the Netherlands, Rear Admiral Dipl.-Ing. Visser, signed a bilateral agreement (MoU) regarding the Centre for Ship Signature Management (CSSM), which is to evolve into an internationally recognized center for ship signatures.
Within the CSSM, German and Dutch research activities in the field of ship signatures will be coordinated, optimized and carried out together. Knowledge existing on both sides will be used and new knowledge will be gained in close collaboration. This approach will provide more efficient operation than tests conducted independently by each of the participants. This cooperation is supposed to ease problems caused by personnel shortages in the technical field, to intensify the exchange of information and to combine and expand expertise in the field of ship signature management.
Ship signature management has gained in importance due to the changed orientation of the Bundeswehr that requires a fleet operating worldwide and an increasing number of operations in shallow and littoral waters. A ship’s signature refers to all changes in the physical environment caused by the ship. These include, for example, radar cross-section, infra-red emission, hydroacoustics, hydroelectromagnetics and the hydrodynamic pressure field. These changes in the environment can be detected by enemy sensors and may therefore used by the opponent for the reconnaissance and engagement of the ship. Minimizing these tracks provides a higher level of safety for the ships and increases operational effectiveness.
The establishment of the CSSM lays the foundation of a competence center for overall signatures and signature management operating throughout Europe. Choosing Kiel as its location means an investment in know-how in Northern Germany. The huge media interest has highlighted the importance of the Centre.
