MINIMAL DEPICTION
Most features, including bathymetry, are omitted in this area.  
The minimal depiction of detail in this area does not support 
safe navigation, mariners should use a more appropriate navigational purpose.

PASSAGE PLANNING
See the following Mariners' Routeing Guides for routeing regulations,
reporting requirements, pilotage arrangements and other navigational advice.
BA Chart 5500, for Doverstrait up to 52-08N, and Neth. Chart 1970 for
Southern North Sea/German Bight. 
IMO recommends that all vessels navigating the Channel and Dover Strait should
have on board the latest edition of Chart 5500 or an equivalent guide.

OIL and GAS FIELDS
Production platforms and associated structures, including tanker 
moorings, storage tankers and platforms on pipelines, generally exhibit 
Mo(U) lights, aircraft obstruction lights and audible fog signals.
Unauthorized navigation is prohibited within 500m of all such 
structures, including storage tankers which can swing about their 
moorings. Tankers manoeuvring in the vicinity of platforms and 
moorings should be given a wide berth. For further information see 
The Netherlands Coast Pilot (HP1) or The Mariners' Handbook.

SUBMARINE CABLES AND PIPELINES
Mariners are advised not to anchor or trawl in the vicinity of submarine 
cables and pipelines. Pipelines are not always buried and their presence
may significantly reduce the charted depth. They may also span seabed
undulations and cause fishing gear to become irrecoverably snagged,
putting a vessel in severe danger.

TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEMES AND ROUTEING
For the latest information on individual schemes and IMO mandatory routes
for certain tankers and other vessels, see the Netherlands Coast Pilot(HP1)
or Admiralty Sailing Directions.

DEEP WATER ROUTES
For details of depths within the Deep Water Routes, refer to ENCs of the
appropriate navigational purpose.

WETREP
Tankers of more than 600 dwt carrying heavy
crude oil, heavy fuel oil or bitumen and tar and
their emulsions are required to participate in the
Western European Tanker Reporting System
(WETREP). See Admiralty List of Radio Signals
for further details.

BOUNDARIES
The international boundaries shown on the chart are approximate.

PRECAUTIONARY AREAS
Vessels entering the NORTH HINDER JUNCTION, RIJNVELD, MAAS CENTRE, MAAS JUNCTION and 
IJMUIDEN precautionary areas should navigate with extreme caution as vessels on route 
to and from 'TSS off Texel', IJmuiden, the Westerschelde and Europoort may be merging or crossing.