Part A General provisions on ships’ routeing INTRODUCTION The General Provisions on Ships’ Routeing are established pursuant to regulation V/10 of the SOLAS, Convention, 1 OBJECTIVES 1.1 The purpose of ships’ routeing is to improve the safety of navigation in converging areas and in areas where the density of traffic is great or where freedom of movement of shipping is inhibited by restricted sea room, the existence of obstructions to navigation, limited depths or unfavourable meteorological condi- tions. Ships’ routeing may also be used for the purpose of preventing or reducing the risk of pollution or other damage to the marine environment caused by ships colliding or grounding or anchoring in or near environmentally sensitive areas, 1.2. The precise objectives of any routeing system will depend upon the particular hazardous circumstances which itis intended to alleviate, but may include some or all of the following: 1 the separation of opposing streams of traffic so as to reduce the incidence of head-on encounters; 2. the reduction of dangers of collision between ‘cxossing traffic and shipping in established traffic lanes; 3. the simplification of the patterns of traffic flow in converging areas; 4 the organization of safe traffic flow in areas of concentrated offshore exploration or exp tation; 5 the organization of traffic flow in or around ‘areas where navigation by all ships or by certain classes of ship is dangerous or undesirable; 6 the organization of safe traffic flow in or around or at a safe distance from environ- mentally sensitive areas; 7. the reduction of risk of grounding by provid- ing special guidance to vessels in areas where water depths are uncertain or critical; and 8 the guidance of traffic clear of fishing grounds or the organization of traffic through fishing grounds. 2° DEFINITIONS 2.1. The following terms are used in connection with matters related to ships’ routein; sl Rowteing system Any system of one or more routes or routeing measures aimed at reducing the risk of "These terms are used in the 1972 Collision Regulations Ships’ Routeing (2008 edition) a7 (Amended 2000) casualties; it includes traffic separation schemes, two-way routes, recommended tracks, areas to be avoided, no anchoring areas, inshore traffic zones, roundabouts, precautionary areas and deep-water routes. Mandatory routeing system ‘A routeing system adopted by the Organiza~ tion, in accordance with the requirements of regulation V/10 of the International Conven- tion for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974, for mandatory use by all ships, certain categories of ships or ships carrying certain cargoes. Traffic separation scheme” A routeing measure aimed at the separation of opposing streams of traffic by appropriate means and by the establishment of traffic lanes. Separation zone or line* A zone ot line separating the traffic lanes in ‘which ships are proceeding in opposite or nearly opposite directions; or separating a traffic lane from the adjacent sea area; or separating traffic lanes designated for pacti- ccular classes of ship proceeding in the same direction. Traffic lane” ‘An area within defined limits in which one- way traffic is established. Natural obstacles, including those forming separation zones, ray constitute a boundary. Roundabout ‘A routeing measure comprising a separation point or circular separation zone and a ircular traffic lane within defined limits. Traffic within the roundabout is separated by moving in a counterclockwise direction around the separation point or zone, Inshore traffie zone A routeing measure comprising a designated area between the landward boundary of a traffic separation scheme and the adjacent coast, to be used in accordance with the provisions of rule 10(4), as amended, of the International Regulations for Preventing Col- lisions at Sea, 1972 (Collision Regulations). Two-way route A route within defined limits inside which two-way traffic is established, aimed at providing safe passage of ships through waters where navigation is difficult or danger- ous. Recommended route A route of undefined width, for the conve-nience of ships in transit, which is often marked by centreline buoys. .10 Recommended track ‘A route which has been specially examined to ensure so far as possible that it is free of dangers and along waich ships are advised to navigate. «1 Deep-water route ‘A route within defined limits which has beea ‘accurately surveyed for clearance of sea bottom ‘and submerged obstacles as indicated on the chart. 12 Precautionary area ‘A routeing measure comprising an area within defined limits where ships must navigate with particular caution and within which the direction of traffic flow may be recommended, «13 Area to be avoided ‘A routeing measure comprising an area within defined limits in which either navigation is particularly hazardous or it is exceptionally important to avoid casualties and which should be avoided by all ships, or certain classes of ship. «14. No anchoring area ‘A routeing measure comprising an area within defined limits where anchoring is hazardous or could result in unacceptable damage to the marine environment. Anchoring in @ n0 anchoring area should be avoided by all ships ‘or certain classes of ships, except in case of immediate danger to the ship or the persons on board, 15 Established direction of traffic flow ‘A traffic flow pattern indicating the direc tional movement of traffic as established ‘within a traffic separation scheme. 16 Recommended direction of traffic flow ‘A wraffic flow pattem indicating a revom- mended directional movement of traffic where it is impractical or unnecessary to adopt an established direction of traific flow. 3. PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Procedures and functions of IMO 3.1 IMO is recognized as the only international body responsible for establishing and adopting measures on an international level concerning ships’ routcing systems for use by all ships, certain categories of ships or ships carrying certain cargoes or types and quantities of bunker fuel. 3.2 _In deciding whether or not to adopt or amend a traffic separation scheme, IMO will consider whether: 2. given the overall si Part A 1 the aids to navigation proposed will enable mariners to determine their position with sufficient accuracy to navigate in the scheme in accordance with rule 10 of the 1972 Collision Regulations, as amended; 2 the state of hydrographic surveys in the area is, adequate:” 3 the scheme takes account of the accepted planning considerations and complies with the design criteria for traffic separation schemes and with established methods of routeing. 3.3. In deciding whether or not to adopt or amend a roulcing system other than a trafic separation scheme, IMO will consider whether the aids to navigation and the state of hydrographic surveys are adequate for the purpose of the system.” 34 IMO shall not adopt or amend any routeing system without the agreement of the interested coastal States, where that system may affect: 1 their rights and practices in respect of the exploitation of living and mineral resources; 2 the environment, traffic pattern or established routeing systems in the waters concerned; and 3. demands for improvements or adjustments in the navigational aids or hydrographic surveys in the waters concerned. 43.5 In deciding whether or not to adopt or amend a ‘mandatory routeing system, IMO will, in addition to the provisions of paragraphs 3.2, 3.3, as appropriate, and 3.4, consider whether: 1 proper and sufficient justification for the establishment of a mandatory routeing system ‘has been provided by the sponsoring Govern ‘ment or Governments; and 2. ports or harbours of littoral States would be adversely affected. 3.6 In deciding whether or not (o adopt or amend a routcing system which is intended to protect the marine environment, IMO will consider whether: <1. the proposed routeing system can reasonably be expected to significantly prevent or reduce the risk of pollution or other damage to the ‘marine environment of the area concerned; of the area to be protected, or the aggregate number of envir- ‘onmentally sensitive arcas established or identified in the geographical region con- cerned, the use of routeing systems ~ particu- larly areas to be avoided — could have the effect of unreasonably limiting the sea area available for navigation; and 3 the proposed routeing system meets the requirements of these General Provisions, Te minimum standards to which hydrographic eurveys are to be conducted, to verily the accuracy of charted depths in the trafic anes of a proposed or empended trafic sxparation seheme or in 2 deep-water route or oer rteing measure, re those defined in Special Publication No, ‘Who the International Hydrographic Organiasticn, 140 Standards for Hcrographic Sureys ~ Classification criteria for dep sea soundings Procedures for elimination of doubt data 2 (Amended 2000) Ships’ Routeing (2008 edition]