Page 91 - Collision Avoidance Rules Guide

As Rules l(d) and 1O(a) refer to traffic separation schemes adopted
by the Organization it is implied that the terminology used in Rule
10 is the same as that included in the IMO General Provisions on
Ships’ Routeing. The terms ‘traffic separation scheme’, ‘separation
zone or line’, ‘traffic lane’ and ‘inshore traffic zone’, which are used
in Rule 10, are defined in the General Provisions on Ships’ Routeing
as follows:
(a) Traffic Separation Scheme A routeing measure aimed at the
separation of opposing streams of traffk 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 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 particular classes of ship
proceeding in the same direction.
(d) Znshore Trafic Zone A routeing measure comprising a
designated area between the landward boundary of a tr&c separation
scheme and the adjacent coast, to be used in accordance with the
provisions of Rule 10(d), as amended, of the International Regulations
for Preventing Collisions at Sea (Collision Regulations), 1972.
Details of traffic separation schemes adopted by IMO are depicted
on nautical charts, using the symbols which are described in the IMO
publication Ships ’ Routeing. A government may however in urgent
cases adjust an adopted scheme and implement this change before
approval by IMO. It is important to keep charts up to date with respect
to any new traffic separation schemes, or amendments to existing
schemes, from information given in Notices to Mariners and other
publications (see pages 4-5).
Some governments have adopted, within their territorial waters,
traffic separation schemes with principles and nomenclature that
differ from those officially adopted by IMO. Mariners should consult
nautical publications such as Sailing Directions and other relevant
documents to see whether there are any important differences in the
principles and nomenclature of a locally adopted scheme with which
they should become familiar.
72