History

The Potsdam Model Basin (SVA) is part of a more than 120-year tradition of ship and hydraulic engineering and scientific research and development in Berlin-Brandenburg. As a result of the 2nd World War and the division of Germany, the SVA was established. The predecessor of SVA was the “Königlichen Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau und Schiffbau” (VWS), founded 1903 in Berlin. The foundation of the SVA in Potsdam began as part of the hydraulic division of VWS in Potsdam-Marquardt at Sacrow-Paretz-Canal in 1953. Since 1955, towing tests and diverse scientific work for the shipbuilding industry have been carried out at SVA.

The following documents provide an insight into the history of the SVA:

Darstellung der Geschichte der Schiffbau-Versuchsanstalt Potsdam
Henschke, W., „Entwurf, Bau, Einrichtungen, Aufgaben und Einweihung der neuen Schiffbau-Versuchsanstalt in Marquardt bei Potsdam“, Schiffbautechnik, Heft 5, Mai 1955
Knieß, H.-G., „90 Jahre Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau“, Mitteilungsblatt der Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau (1993) Nr. 70
SVA items Nr. 8, „Jubiläumsausgabe – 50 Jahre SVA“, …
Mehmel, M., „60 Jahre Schiffbau-Versuchsanstalt Potsdam oder wie alles anfing“, …

Short Outline of the History of the SVA Potsdam:

Origin of the SVA

07.07.1903 – Establishment of the „Königliche Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau und Schiffbau” in Berlin
1918 – Renamed „Preußische Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau und Schiffbau” (VWS)
1919 – Allocation of a 21-hectare site belonging to the county of Bornim, district Marquardt (Sacrow-Paretz-Canal)
ab 1926 – Carrying out of hydraulic engineering experiments
1938 – Renamed ” Versuchsanstalt für Wasser-, Erd- und Schiffbau ” (VWES)
1943 – Destruction or damage to the equipment of VWS by bombing
1945 – Establishment of the “Forschungsanstalt für Schifffahrt, Wasser- und Grundbau“ (FAS) by the Soviet Military Administration
1952 – Establishment of a research center for towing tests within the office of “Hochseeschiffbau” in Berlin-Karlshorst

Potsdam Model Basin Potsdam (SVA) in the Institut für Schiffbau Rostock and in the VEB Kombinat Rostock – Stammbetrieb

12.08.1953 – Groundbreaking for the Potsdam Model Basin in Potsdam-Marquardt
22.12.1954 – Official opening ceremony
21.01.1955 – First regular towing test in the 80 m channel
Mai 1956 – First propulsion test with cable-carriage
Januar 1958 – First propulsion test with towing carriage
Oktober 1958 – Commissioning of the extended to 280 m towing tank
1964 – Installation of a wave machine for regular swell
1966 – Installation of a larger towing carriage
1969 – Installation of the computer ODRA 1204 / Application of numerical methods
11.10.1971 – Commissioning of the cavitation tunnel K15A type from Kempf & Remmers
ab 1984 – Use of the LDV measurement technique
1986 – Installation of a new towing carriage
1988 – Commissioning of the RKA building
1989 – 1990 – Establishing of the wax model production, Commissioning of the model milling machine from Kempf & Remmers

The Schiffbau-Versuchsanstalt Potsdam (SVA) as GmbH

01.06.1990 – Conversion of the SVA into a Limited Liability Company
14.09.1991 – Honorary Conference for the 85th birthday of Dr. Henschke
07.12.1991 – Inaugural meeting of the Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Schiffbau-Versuchsanstalt Potsdam GmbH (GzFdSVA)
12.03.1992 – Founding of the “Verband innovativer Unternehmen e.V.” with SVA as a founding member
März 1993 – Privatisation of SVA through an management-buy-out
19.05.1993 – Certification of non-profit status by the Tax Office Potsdam City
02.03.1995 – First SVA – Forum
14.02.1996 – Certification of QM System by GL
2001 – Installation Planar Motion System from Hydronautics Research Inc. for the investigation of deeply submerged bodies
2004 – Acquisition of roughness measurement system from TU Berlin
13.12.2004 – Establishing the SVAtech GmbH
ab 2006 – Production of models by means of CNC machines
31.01.2008 – First research forum „Theoria cum Praxi“
25.05.2010 – Groundbreaking for a new office building
2010 – Installation of a 5-axis CNC milling machine model
26.01.2011 – Opening of the new office building
2011 – Installation CNC waterjet cutting system
2011 – 2014 – Modernisation of model production / Reconstruction of workshops
2012 – 2013 – Establishing a new process control of the cavitation tunnel and towing tank
2014 – Commissioning of a 3D printer, integration of a 3D scanner in the model production