Special Notice No. 21 : TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEMES - SHIPS ROUTEING
(Source: Director General of Shipping, www.imo.org)

1.	Ships' routeing systems contribute to safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation and/or protection of the marine environment. Ships' routeing systems are recommended for use by, and may be made mandatory for, all ships, certain categories of ships or ships carrying certain cargoes, when adopted and implemented in accordance with the guidelines and criteria developed by the IMO.

2.	Traffic separation schemes and other ship routeing systems have now been established in most of the major congested; shipping areas of the world and the number of collisions and groundings have often been dramatically reduced.

3.    	In  1961,  the  Institutes  of  Navigation of the Federal Republic of Germany,  France  and  the  United  Kingdom carried out a study of  measures for separating traffic in areas where statistics indicated increased risk of collision. The first Traffic Separation Scheme was implemented in the Dover Strait in 1967. Since then a larger number of similar routeing schemes have been established throughout the world. The details are shown on the charts and referred to in Sailing Directions. For further information about ships' routeing, see ’The Mariner's Handbook ''.
        
4.    	The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is the only body responsible for establishing and recommending measures on an international level concerning ships routeing. Where in schemes lie wholly within territorial water, decisions concerning routeing rest with the national government but such schemes may also be submitted for IMO's approval and adoption. The details of schemes adopted by IMO are set out in the IMO Publication "Ships' Routeing". Member states of IMO usually take legislative action to ensure that their nationally registered ships adhere to the measures and routes adopted by the Organisation. In some schemes, special provisions are included governing their use by all ships or by specified classes of ships. On the charts, relevant information is given or there are recommendations to chart users to consult Sailing Directions for details.
        
5.    	The  schemes  approved  by  IMO  and  the routes established  by  coastal  states  or  other  competent  national authorities concerned with the safety of navigation will be inserted on navigational charts. On the charts, the IMO-adopted schemes  are  not  differentiated from other routeing schemes; however, all charts showing traffic  separation  schemes  will carry  a  reference  to  this   Notice. While vessels using the traffic lanes in schemes adopted  by  IMO  must,  in  particular, comply  with  Rule  10 of International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, they are not  thereby  given  any  right  of  way  over  crossing  vessels. The other steering and sailing rules still apply in all respects, particularly if the risk of collision is involved.

6.	Where two or more Governments have a common interest in a particular area, they should formulate joint proposals for the delineation and use of a routeing system therein on the basis of an agreement between them. Upon receipt of such proposal and before proceeding with consideration of it for adoption, the Organization shall ensure details of the proposal are disseminated to the Governments which have a common interest in the area, including countries in the vicinity of the proposed ships' routeing system. Contracting Governments shall adhere to the measures adopted by IMO concerning ships' routeing. They shall promulgate all information necessary for the safe and effective use of adopted ships' routeing systems. A Government or Governments concerned may monitor traffic in those systems. Contracting Governments shall do everything in their power to secure the appropriate use of ships' routeing systems adopted by the Organization. Mandatory ships' routeing systems shall be reviewed by the Contracting Government or Governments concerned in accordance with the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization.

7.	A ship shall use a mandatory ships' routeing system adopted by the Organization as required for its category or cargo carried and in accordance with the relevant provisions in force unless there are compelling reasons not to use a particular ships' routeing system. Any such reason shall be recorded in the ships' log.

8.	Governments intending to establish a new routeing system, or amend an existing one, must submit proposed routeing measures to IMO's Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation (NAV), which will then evaluate the proposal and make a recommendation regarding its adoption. The recommendation is then passed to the MSC for adoption.

9.	As well as traffic separation schemes, other routeing measures adopted by IMO to improve safety 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 must navigate with particular caution), and areas to be avoided (for reasons of exceptional danger or especially sensitive ecological and environmental factors).

10.	Elements Used in Traffic Routeing Systems Include:
	(a)	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. 
	(b)	Traffic lane: an area within defined limits in which one-way traffic is established. Natural obstacles, including those forming separation zones, may constitute a boundary. 
	(c)	Separation zone or line: a zone or line separating 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 particular classes of ship proceeding in the same direction. 
	(d)	Roundabout: a separation point or circular separation zone and a circular traffic lane within defined limits. 
	(e)	Inshore traffic zone: a designated area between the landward boundary of a traffic separation scheme and the adjacent coast. 
	(f)	Recommended route: a route of undefined width, for the convenience of ships in transit, which is often marked by centerline buoys. 
	(g)	Deep-water route: a route within defined limits which has been accurately surveyed for clearance of sea bottom and submerged articles. 
	(h)	Precautionary area: an area within defined limits where ships must navigate with particular caution and within which the direction of flow of traffic may be recommended. 
	(j)	Area to be avoided: 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 by certain classes of ships. 
11.    	The annexed list contains details of the Traffic Separation Schemes at present included in the chart series or in the process of being inserted for the North Indian Ocean area from South Africa Coast to Singapore, including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Several facts about each scheme are given:
       
 (a)	The  geographical  positions quoted are approximate and, with the place names, are  given  merely  to indicate  the  general  location  of the scheme and to facilitate its identification on  the  charts.  If any extensive area is involved, the geographical co-ordinates of the extreme ends of the separation zones or lines are given.
        
 (b)	The schemes which have been adopted by IMO are marked* in the margin. For other schemes, the originating authority is given. Any change to the schemes during the year will be announced through Notices to Mariners.
        
 (c)	In each case, only the principal charts, on which the details of the scheme are shown, are quoted. Separate latticed versions are not listed.
        
 (d)	In some cases, the volumes of Admiralty Sailing Directions which contains details of the scheme are quoted under the heading "Remarks".

List of Traffic Separation Schemes Shown on Indian/Admiralty Charts.
        
	*1.	Gulf of Suez
                     	Charts: B.A. 2133, 333, 2373, 2374, 2375,159  
(The Mariners Roueting Guide - Chart 5501 is recommended as an additional reference).
        
	2.	Approaches to Yanbu
                        Charts: B.A. 326, 327, 328, 158
                  	The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
        
	*3.	Strait of Tiran
		801, 2375, 12, 159

*4.	Bab-el-Mandeb 
                       	Charts: 8010, B.A. 452, 1925, 3661, 143, 6, 157    
    
*5.	West and South of Hanish al Kubra
		Charts: B.A 453, 1925, 143, 6, 157
	
*6.	East of Jabal Zuqar Island
		Charts: B.A 453, 1925, 143, 6, 157	

*7.	Off Ra's al Hadd,                    	 
                 	Charts: B.A. 38, 2851, 707, 2858        
	
*8.	Off Ra’s al Kûh
	BA Charts: 3171, 3520, 2888, 2851, 2837, 2858

             *9.	Strait of Hormuz 
                        Charts: 8005, 8004, 289. B.A. 2851.
        
             *10.	Tonb-Forur(Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg to Jazireh-ye Forur)                	                  		Charts: 8004, 289, B.A.2887. 
        
             *11	Off Mînâ’al Ahmadî   
		Charts: B.A. 1223, 3773, 2882, 2884, 2847, 2858  
        
             *12.	Between Zaqqum and Umm Shaif Oilfields.
                      	Charts: B.A. 2443, 2444, 3178, 3179, 2886, 2887, 2889, 2837, 2858        

             *13.	Approaches to Ra's Tanura 
                        Charts: B.A. 3776, 3812, 3777, 3788, 3790, 2882, 2883, 2886, 2837, 2847, 2858
Amended width of Arrival Channel not yet IMO adopted.

             *14.   	In the Approaches to Ra's Ju'aymah (Persian Gulf)
                        Charts: B.A. 3776, 3777, 3788, 2882, 2883, 2886, 2837, 2847, 2858                  
		Remarks: See Admiralty Sailing Directions, N.P.63.
        
             *15.   	Between Zuluf and Marjan Oilfields
                        Charts: B.A. 3774, 2882, 2884, 2847, 2858
	
             16.	Off Mumbai 
Charts: 21, 22,(INT 752), 292(INT 7021), 293(INT 7022), 253(INT 7328), 254 (INT 7331), 255(INT 7334), 256(INT 7340), 210, 211,212, 2016(INT 7336).
		Director General, Shipping. Mandatory for all Indian and Foreign flag ships
India (Details available in Indian Notices to Mariners/075(07/18).
        
            *17.   	Off Dondra Head (Sri Lanka).
                  	Charts: 226, 264, 32, and 23.

            18.	Port of Singapore — Traffic Systems – Sinki Fairway                  
	            Charts: B.A. 4031, 4032, 4034, 4035, 4040, 3833   
     		Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore                  
		Remarks: See Admiralty Sailing Directions, N.P.44.

            19.	Port of Singapore — Traffic Systems – Southern Fairway
Charts: B.A. 3833, 4035, 4036, 4037, 4040, 4041
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Remarks: See Admiralty Sailing Directions, N.P.44.
             
           *20.   	At one Fathom Bank (Permatang Sedepa).
                        Charts: B.A. 2139, 3940, 3945, 3946, 1353, 1358    
 Remarks: See Admiralty Sailing Directions, N.P.44.

            *21.	Port Klang(Pelabuhan Klang) to Port Dickson
Charts: B.A. 1140, 2139, 3940, 3946, 1358
Remarks: See Admiralty Sailing Directions, N.P.44.

            *22.	Port Dickson to Tanjung Keling
Charts: B.A. 3946, 3947, 1358
Remarks: See Admiralty Sailing Directions, N.P.44.

             *23.	Melaka to Iyu Kecil
Charts: B.A. 3833, 2403, 3946, 3947, 1358
Remarks: See Admiralty Sailing Directions, N.P.44.

           *24.   	Singapore’s Strait, (Main Strait)
Charts: B.A. 4030, 4031, 4036, 4038, 4039, 4040, 4041, 3833, 5502, 2403, 3947, 1358    
 Remarks: See Admiralty Sailing Directions, N.P.44.

          *25.	Singapore Strait(off St John’s Island(Pulau Sakijang Bendera)
Charts: B.A. 4040, 4041, 3833, 5502, 2403, 1358
Remarks: See Admiralty Sailing Directions, N.P.44.

          *26.	Singapore Strait(off Changi and Pulau Batam)
Charts: B.A 4037, 4041, 4042, 3831, 3833, 5502, 2403
Remarks: See Admiralty Sailing Directions, N.P.44.

         *27.	Horsburgh Lighthouse Area                   	
       		Charts: B.A. 4042, 3831, 2403, 1311, 3543, 5502, 1312
Remarks: See Admiralty Sailing Directions, N.P.44.


         * Details available in www.imo.org 
