EUROPILOTS The Association of Licensed Deep Sea Pilots
EUROPILOTS
The
Association of Licensed Deep Sea Pilots
Assisting Shipowners and Masters in North European Waters for over 50 years
The Professional Organisation for British Deep Sea Pilots
Extract from the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea
Rule 10 ......... Traffic Separation Schemes
(a) This Rule applies to traffic separation schemes adopted
by the Organisation [ the I.M.O.]
(b) A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall:
.... (i) proceed in the appropriate traffic lane in the general direction of
traffic flow for that lane;
.... (ii) so far as practicable keep clear of a traffic separation line or separation
zone;
... (iii) normally join or leave a traffic lane at the termination of the lane,
but when joining or leaving from either side shall do so at as small an angle
to the general direction of traffic flow as practicable
(c) A vessel shall so far as practicable avoid crossing traffic lanes, but if
obliged to do so shall cross as nearly as practicable at right angles to the
general direction of traffic flow.
(d) (i) Inshore traffic zones shall not normally be used by through traffic
which can safely use the appropriate traffic lane within the adjacent traffic
separation scheme. However, vessels of less than 20 metres in length and sailing
vessels may, under all circumstances, use inshore traffic zones.
.... (ii) Notwithstanding subparagraph (d)(i), a vessel may use an inshore traffic
zone when en route to of from a port,
offshore installation or structure, pilot station or any other place situated
within the inshore traffic zone, or to avoid immediate danger.
(e) A vessel other than a crossing vessel or a vessel joining or leaving a lane
shall not normally enter a separation zone or cross a separation line except:
.... (i) in cases of emergency to avoid immediate danger;
.... (ii) to engage in fishing within a separation zone.
(f) A vessel navigating in areas near the terminations of traffic separation
schemes shall do so with particular caution.
(g) A vessel shall so far as practicable avoid anchoring in a traffic separation
scheme or in areas near its terminations.
(h) A vessel not using a traffic separation scheme shall avoid it by as wide
a margin as practicable.
(i) A vessel engaged in fishing shall not impede the passage of any vessel following
a traffic lane.
(j) A vessel of less than 20 metres in length or a sailing vessel shall not
impede the safe passage of a power driven
vessel following a traffic lane.
(k) A vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre when engaged in an operation
for the maintenance of safety of navigation in a traffic separation scheme is
exempted from complying with this Rule to the extent necessary
to carry out the operation.
(l) A vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre when engaged in an operation
for the laying , servicing or picking up of a submarine cable, within a traffic
separation scheme, is exempted from complying with this Rule
to the extent necessary to carry out the operation.