Crossing North Sea - TSSs & Gas fields?

[hoverjumper]

Hi all,
I'm planning a crossing to North Holland from Scotland next summer. Looking at routing options at the moment and have a few questions I can't find answers to...

1. Oil & Gas Fields: Imray Chart states "... vessels strongly advised to keep outside the charted limits." and "Unauthorised navigation is prohibited within 500 metres of structures and subsea wells marked by buoys."
Well my chart shows installations, but no actual "charted limits". Assuming I keep a good lookout, monitor VHF 16 and honour the 500m min distance, why I shouldn't I navigate through/past oil & gas fields?

2. TSS & Deep Water (DW) Routes: Reeds warns that a direct routing "crosses two DW Routes and runs into extensive oil & gas fields." and when departing Holland from East of Den Helder "make ground West via the Inshore Traffic Zone (ITZ) before taking departure."
So what's wrong with crossing the TSSs and DWs at right angles where I want to? Is Reeds being a bit over cautious or is there merit in this advice?

3. Which pilot books and reference material should I fork out for? (I currently have Reeds Eastern Almanac.) North Sea Crossing Pilot only covers up to Cromer I believe, so not much use to me. Anyone familiar with the Admiralty North Sea pilots?

 

[EdWingfield]

I've crossed Cromer - Ijmuiden and Den Helder - Whitby.

I think you will not be near the oil field but you will have to deal with the gas field.

The gas field is no problem - so long as you don't approach too close to a structure (500m). Anyway, they are of interest to the watchkeeper, and he can log 'em off as you pass them.

If you should hit a serious problem you couldn't be in a better place, as there are standby/safety vessels in abundance.

The TSS's were no problem to me, they were quiet both ways. I'm told they can be busy but theres no predicting when. There is one 'diamond' area where ships alter course and yotties must avoid.

When I was looking to cross from Northumberland I had strongish Westerlies so sailed S in the lee of the land, eventually leaving from Norfolk and Smiths Knoll buoy.

 

[hoverjumper]

The gas field is no problem - so long as you don't approach too close to a structure (500m). Anyway, they are of interest to the watchkeeper, and he can log 'em off as you pass them.

If you should hit a serious problem you couldn't be in a better place, as there are standby/safety vessels in abundance.

The TSS's were no problem to me, they were quiet both ways. I'm told they can be busy but theres no predicting when. There is one 'diamond' area where ships alter course and yotties must avoid.

Thanks Ed,
You confirm what I'm thinking. In particular something for the watchkeeper to look at and the safety and reassurance of having company out there in the middle of the ogin. That diamond area is Vlieland Junction which I figured would be prudent to avoid.
Cheers,
Eamon

 

[CLP]

We've done Scotland/Norway a few times so not familiar with the southern North Sea but although worried about the number of rigs and buoys etc before hand we found things pretty straight forward.

On the chart, with even a thin pencil line, it looks difficult to avoid the installations but in reality, we had plenty of sea room and didn't have to make any course alterations to miss platforms, just the usual ones to avoid other shipping and to deal with the weather.

As already mentioned they have guard vessels stationed close by and will call up any vessel they think might be getting too close. The call up takes the form "vessel in position such and such heading 060 at 6knots etc, what are you intention?". They are always very polite and if you leep a good listening watch on ch16 and have your position, course and speed over thre ground always ready to hand to check against if you hear a call up, you shouldn't have any problems.

In fact we have called the rigs up and got the latest weather forecasts. They have always been happy to oblige and to have a chat.