ZMGS. Software for Secure Shipping Traffic.

Alexander von Humboldt. The discovery of river links. When Alexander von Humboldt set out from La Coruña in 1799, the tropical area of the South American continent was largely a white space on the map. With the assistance of the most advanced measuring instruments, which he operated himself in the small canoe steered by a helmsman and four native oarsmen, Humboldt was able to draw precise maps of the regions he visited. As a result, he was able to accurately measure the 328 km long Casiquiare, a natural link between the two river systems of the Orinoco and the Amazon, and therefore settle the dispute over its existence once and for all. For a long time after their publication, Humboldt's maps remained the best cartographic illustrations of American regions.

Central Reporting System for Dangerous Goods at Sea. Along with the increase in shipping traffic – especially international container traffic – responsible institutions and industrial nations are also faced with increased demand for the assurance of the safety and efficiency of shipping traffic . The spectacular incidents of recent years show clearly that accidents on the high seas, which pose a danger for the environment, cannot always be avoided. In order to react quickly and comprehensively in such cases, it is necessary to provide access to all ship and cargo data to organisations responsible for emergency response measures. This is the central objective of the Central Reporting System for Hazardous Goods at Sea . It provides a central information portal containing numerous search options to supply information on the content, quantities and hazard level of cargo in a matter of seconds. The ZMGS fulfils all the requirements of EU directive 2002/59/EC. This EU directive follows the guidelines of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), so the ZMGS and its components can be used world-wide.