The Liberia Maritime Authority has issued a marine advisory to draw attention to recent navigational concerns raised by the Danish Maritime Authority regarding vessels conduct in the IMO adopted Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) off Skagen, Denmark, reports Safety4sea.
Attention to recent navigational concerns
Specifically, vessels have been observed transiting the inshore traffic zone without a valid operational justification, violating COLREG Rule 10(d)(i).
The COLREG rule 10(d)(i) states that : “A vessel shall not use an inshore traffic zone when she can safely use the appropriate traffic lane within the adjacent traffic separation scheme. However, vessels of less than 20 m in length, sailing vessels, and vessels engaged in fishing may use the inshore traffic zones.”
In this regard, Shipowners, Operators, Masters, and Navigating Officers shall ensure compliance with COLREG, when approaching or transiting a TSS and:
- Avoid inshore traffic zones unless en route to or from a port, offshore installation or structure, pilot station, or any other place situated within the inshore traffic zone, or to avoid immediate danger.
- Chart and document any deviation with clear justification in the voyage plan.
- Maintain AIS transmissions and ensure route accuracy.
- Communicate with a VTS when approaching the area.
- Retain voyage plans and communication records for inspection if requested.
A traffic separation scheme (TSS) is an IMO-adopted maritime routing measure that uses traffic lanes, separation zones, or lines to separate opposing streams of ship traffic and prevent collisions in congested or hazardous waters.
Other ships’ routeing measures adopted by IMO to improve safety of navigation at sea include: two-way routes; recommended tracks; deep water routes (for the benefit primarily of ships whose ability to manoeuvre is constrained by their draught); precautionary areas (where ships should navigate with particular caution); areas to be avoided (for reasons of exceptional danger or especially sensitive ecological and environmental factors).
These ships’ routeing systems have been established in most of the major congested, shipping areas of the world, and the number of collisions and groundings has often been dramatically reduced.
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Source: Safety4sea
