The BSH is a higher Federal authority in Germany with responsibility for maritime matters. The scope of the BSH's activities is wide, ranging from questions of economy in shipping to the safety of ship's technology and marine research.

Police regulations for the Rhine navigation, inspection regulations for vessels on the Rhine, transport regulations for dangerous goods, regulations of boatmaster's patent, and guidelines for radiotelephony.

Registration of inland navigation vessels and the publication of the registrated vessels.

A page of The European Commission.