diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/api/ships.py b/src/server/BreCal/api/ships.py
index 9e92ffa..482474b 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/api/ships.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/api/ships.py
@@ -91,15 +91,15 @@ def DeleteShip():
         
         # read the user data from the JWT token (set when login is performed)
         user_data = check_jwt()
-        ship_id = request.args.get("id")
         
         if 'id' in request.args:
             options = {}
             options["id"] = request.args.get("id")
         else:
-            return create_dynamic_exception_response(ex=ex, status_code=400, message="no id provided")
+            return create_dynamic_exception_response(ex=None, status_code=400, message="no id provided")
 
         # validate the request data & user permissions
+        ship_id = request.args.get("id")
         InputValidationShip.evaluate_delete_data(user_data, ship_id)
         return impl.ships.DeleteShip(options)
         
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_ship.py b/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_ship.py
index 4b9ad23..80c6261 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_ship.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_ship.py
@@ -60,7 +60,11 @@ class InputValidationShip():
         return
     
     @staticmethod
-    def evaluate_delete_data(user_data:dict, ship_id:int):
+    def evaluate_delete_data(user_data:dict, ship_id:typing.Optional[int]):
+        if ship_id is None:
+            raise ValidationError({"id":f"The ship id must be provided."})
+        ship_id = int(ship_id)
+        
         # 1.) Only users of type BSMD are allowed to PUT
         InputValidationShip.check_user_is_bsmd_type(user_data)
 
@@ -123,18 +127,15 @@ class InputValidationShip():
         return
     
     @staticmethod
-    def check_if_entry_is_already_deleted(ship_id:int):
+    def check_if_entry_is_already_deleted(ship_id:typing.Optional[int]):
         """
         When calling a delete request for ships, the dataset may not be deleted already. This method
         makes sure, that the request contains and ID, has a matching entry in the database, and the
         database entry may not have a deletion state already.
         """
-        if ship_id is None:
-            raise ValidationError({"id":f"The ship id must be provided."})
-        
         response, status_code, header = GetShips(token=None)
         ships = json.loads(response)
-        existing_database_entries = [ship for ship in ships if ship.get("id")==ship_id]
+        existing_database_entries = [ship for ship in ships if ship.get("id")==int(ship_id)]
         if len(existing_database_entries)==0:
             raise ValidationError({"id":f"Could not find a ship with the specified ID. Selected: {ship_id}"})
 
diff --git a/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_times.py b/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_times.py
index 28e450f..6dd1234 100644
--- a/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_times.py
+++ b/src/server/BreCal/validators/input_validation_times.py
@@ -108,8 +108,10 @@ class InputValidationTimes():
         return
     
     @staticmethod
-    def evaluate_delete_data(user_data:dict, times_id:int):
-        # #TODO_determine: is times_id always an int or does the request.args call provide a string?
+    def evaluate_delete_data(user_data:dict, times_id:typing.Optional[int]):
+        # 0.) an ID reference must be provided and will be converted to int
+        if times_id is None:
+            raise ValidationError({"id":"no times id provided"})
         times_id = int(times_id) if not isinstance(times_id, int) else times_id
 
         # 1.) The dataset entry may not be deleted already