Tragic Loss for International Hydrographic Community

The Level A was commissioned by the Basel urban construction and transportation departments and in collaboration with the Swiss Rhine ports active in Basel, tasked with testing new equipment and technologies for measuring the shipping lanes in the Rhine. Boat and crew had arrived at Basel earlier that week and were due to remain working on the Rhine in Switzerland for a further two weeks.

Professor Dr Volker Böder made an enormous contribution to encouraging young professionals to join the hydrographic industry. He was one of the driving forces behind the international hydrographic exchange programmes that were established between higher educational institutes throughout Europe. Professor Dr Volker Böder realised that the hydrographers of the future would be operating in a global industry and that it was therefore important for students to gain international experience at an early stage – an initiative which deserves to be remembered. He also introduced special hydrographic summer camps in Germany to promote the profession of hydrography, and on an international level he contributed to the FIG by demonstrating how hydrographers benefit the global economy, not to mention his work for FIG Commission 4.

Dr Walter Pelka, president of the HCU, comments: “At this dreadful time, our thoughts and our sympathies go out to the families of Volker Böder and the captain of the Level A. We are terribly sorry to hear about this disaster. With the loss of professor Böder, we lose someone who was a great expert in his field, whose reputation extended far beyond the HCU Hamburg. Above all, we mourn a sincere, helpful and popular colleague. Words cannot truly express what this loss means to the HCU and the world of geomatics in particular.”

The hydrographic community has lost an ambassador for the modern-day hydrographic surveyor. Let us hope that we can continue his legacy.

Condolences from the hydrographic community in Fiji Gerard Rokoua Acting OIC Hydrographic Service Fiji - 15/01/2013 - 23:52

Lecturer Nautical Samoa (South Pacific) Why? How it happened? Is it a lack of knowledge? or lack of understadding? Why it happen so fast? The father of Hydro The Master of sea Master of Technology The man behind the wheel of fortune Whay they take him away? may his soul rest in peace Please launch an investigation and question who is behind the scene Leatuaoa Sakaria - 20/09/2012 - 23:42

RIP! you will continue to dwell in our hearts through your works. adieu. oge enebeli, Nigeria. - 19/09/2012 - 11:33

More than our professor, he was one of the warmest person I ever met. My thoughts are with his wife and children, he will be missed but he will not be forgotten. Antoine Vial Aussavy - 10/09/2012 - 10:41

This is really sad. It shocks. May their souls rest in perfect peace. Amen. OKOKON ESSIEN - 09/09/2012 - 14:12

We deeply empathize with all of Volker's students at HCU, all of his past and present colleagues and most importantly his dear family. All of my thoughts are with you. Christian Hirt, Curtin University Western Australia Christian Hirt - 08/09/2012 - 02:33

I met Volker through FIG in Marrakech last year, he was the most warm, welcoming and enthusiastic person I met that week, this is terribly sad news. Alex Maddison - 07/09/2012 - 02:51

Oh, Professor Dr. Volker Böder, Oh, Wir haben verloren Unser Lehrer, Ein Vater zu uns, Ein Freund zu uns, Ein Vertrauter zu uns, Ein Mentor für uns, Solver unserer Probleme, Unsere Berater, Unsere erste und letzte Punkt der Beratung als Hydro Studenten Oh Gott, wir sind in Not Hier in HPA, Hamburg Mir wurde gesagt, ein wichtiges Mitglied des Hydrographischen Gemeinschaft ist unser Schöpfer gegangen Gleiche in HCU Oh Gott, was ist das, Seine Familie zurückgelassen bitten wir Sie, O Tröster trösten Wir, seine Mitarbeiter, Freunde, und Studenten, wir Tränen vergießen Oh Gott, wir danken Ihnen für Sie uns Gelegenheit von wissen, lieben, Umgang mit, Lernen aus, und mit diesem Edelstein einer Person Professor Dr. Volker Böder für eine Zeit, Sie haben von uns genommen, warum, Wir bedanken uns bei allen die gleiche denn wir wissen, Er ruht in Perfect Peace in Ihrem Busen Oh Gott, Wir danken Dir enebeli ichioma - 06/09/2012 - 22:49

Oh, Professor Dr Volker Böder, Oh, We have lost Our Teacher, A father to us, A friend to us, A confidant to us, A mentor to us, Solver of our problems, Our Adviser, Our first and last point of consultation as Hydro Students Oh God, we are in distress Here in HPA, Hamburg I am told an important member of the Hydrographic community is gone to our Maker same in HCU Oh God what is this, His family left behind we ask you to console O Consoler We, his associates, friends, and students, we shed tears Oh God we thank you for you have given us the opportunity of knowing, loving, associating with, learning from, and having this Precious Gem of a person Professor Dr Volker Böder for a time You have taken away from us, why, we thank you all the same for we know He rests in Perfect Peace in Your Bosom Oh God we thank You enebeli ichioma - 06/09/2012 - 22:47

Condolesences from hydrographers in New Zealand. Gary Chisholm - 06/09/2012 - 22:24