Shipping lanes

[braithra]

I have a query re shipping lanes - if im heading across (90 degrees to lane) and i have a few large ships heading down the lane do i turn around 180 and head back the way i came or is it acceptable for me to turn down the shipping lane (now heading in the same direction as the much faster ships) and wait for all of them to pass before turning back onto the original course to cross the lane at 90 degrees

 

[PeterGibbs]

I have a query re shipping lanes - if im heading across (90 degrees to lane) and i have a few large ships heading down the lane do i turn around 180 and head back the way i came or is it acceptable for me to turn down the shipping lane (now heading in the same direction as the much faster ships) and wait for all of them to pass before turning back onto the original course to cross the lane at 90 degrees

If it's a TSS, the senior kind of shipping lane, you are required to cross the lane as effectively as possible, presenting at right angles to the oncoming ships and staying out of their way. What I do when faced with your situation, is to slow right down and choose my moment to press on as a ship passes: in extremis I will stop dead and show the oncoming ship I am not going to cross close ahead of him, but I don't set off down the direction of travel taken by the ships.

In more open waters, not a designated TSS, you have more freedom to avoid being crunched by oncoming ships.

PWG

 

[Skysail]

In addition to slowing down as above, it is acceptable to make a temporary turn up the lane to tuck in behind the stern of the ship(s).

Make your turn obvious to the ship.

If you turn down the lane it will take an age for the ships to pass and put you way off your intended course.
.

 

[Billjratt]

If it's busy you'll never get through!
The first row will be coming from your left, and if you haven't judged your 90deg approach to coincide with a gap the rules expect you to turn to starboard until he overtakes and you would then run under his stern before the next one arrives. Next lot will entail another turn to starboard, passing in opposite directions, until again you nip under his stern and out of the lane.
This worked in the Med with lines of ships moving relatively slowly ~(8 -10Kn)
No doubt someone who regularly channel hops will have more to say....

 

[Searush]

As Skysail says, it makes sense to turn "against" the traffic in order to pass astern of any ships. Turn early & clearly so it is obvious you will pass behind them. Resume your original course as soon as you see you will pass astern.

You will end up a little "up traffic" after the first lane & will probably have to do the same for the second lane & should end up more or less on course - assuming a similar number of potential collision situations.

 

[Playtime]

I have a query re shipping lanes - if im heading across (90 degrees to lane) and i have a few large ships heading down the lane do i turn around 180 and head back the way i came or is it acceptable for me to turn down the shipping lane (now heading in the same direction as the much faster ships) and wait for all of them to pass before turning back onto the original course to cross the lane at 90 degrees

As stated above, it generally makes sense to turn towards the oncoming traffic and pass astern of them. That said, you should not make the decision too early and, especially, do not confuse the oncoming ship.

I have concluded after numerous channel crossings that 9 times out of 10, the big ship will make the decision for you and make a minor course change about 3 miles out if necessary to pass either ahead or astern. In the exceptional case where this doesn't happen, wait until the ship is about 1 mile away and then decide whether to you can safely pass ahead or alter course and pass astern.

Ideally, if you can see the name of the ship, or have AIS, you can call them at the 3 mile point and ask what their intentions are. This avoids any confusion before you take unilateral action.

 

[RMA]

I have concluded after numerous channel crossings that 9 times out of 10, the big ship will make the decision for you and make a minor course change about 3 miles out if necessary to pass either ahead or astern.

You are lucky, they never do that for me, not in the Dover Strait anyway. Whatever you decide to do it needs to be obvious to the ship (assuming, of course, that anyone on board is keeping a look out ).

 

[PeterGibbs]

You are lucky, they never do that for me, not in the Dover Strait anyway. Whatever you decide to do it needs to be obvious to the ship (assuming, of course, that anyone on board is keeping a look out ).

And, most importantly, having made a decision of how to avoid an oncoming ship, stick to this path (within reason) so their bridge knows what it's dealing with - ie like a proper sailor!

PWG

 

[pugwash60]

If you have them coming from your port side you are the stand on vessel and should maintain course and speed unless you believe that any ship with which there may be a a risk of collision is not taking appropriate action. Ships in the TSS have no 'extra rights of way' If you slow down or turn to starboard you will cause confusion on their bridge, that is if they have seen you. Night crossings may be better as they are more likely to see your lights.
Be very cautious about turning up traffic, if you turn to starboard to go up traffic for ships approaching from your starboard side you end up effectively contravening the traffic flow for which there can be large fines, it's unlikely that anyone would think that if you just turned 30 degrees to go under the stern of one ship but if you turned 70 degrees for one ship and then chickened out of the passage between the next two ships it starts to look as though you are steaming up the tss the wrong way.
Much better to slow right down to minimum steerage speed and let them pass ahead but maintain your 90 degree heading to the TSS.
Remember the TSS's are your friends, without them you would have the same quantity of traffic approaching from all directions all the way across, the TSS has put all the E going traffic into one lane and all the W into the other making the whole thing much more predictable. The ships in the lanes have no extra rights of way, normal rules still apply, but you do have to cross on a heading of 90 to the traffic lane so on some occasions it may not be possible to sail across.

 

[Malabar]

Broadly correct, Pugwash60, but you have mised out the significant "vessels under 20m and sailing vessels should not impede the passage of a vessel navigating in the lane. That means that if this applies to you then you should not allow a close quarters situation to develop.

 

[dt4134]

Be very cautious about turning up traffic, if you turn to starboard to go up traffic for ships approaching from your starboard side you end up effectively contravening the traffic flow for which there can be large fines, it's unlikely that anyone would think that if you just turned 30 degrees to go under the stern of one ship but if you turned 70 degrees for one ship and then chickened out of the passage between the next two ships it starts to look as though you are steaming up the tss the wrong way.
Much better to slow right down to minimum steerage speed and let them pass ahead but maintain your 90 degree heading to the TSS.

There's no basis for eschewing a short-term change of course against the traffic flow to avoid impeding a vessel following the lane. I've not heard of a prosecution of small craft for anything other than flagrantly disregarding the TSS.

In general a bold alteration of course is better than a reduction in speed as it leaves much less doubt in the mind of the watchkeeper on the other vessel.

 

[pugwash60]

Thanks Malabar,
I've spent a couple of years ashore and obviously need to brush up on R 10, and if that's the case then probably all of them.
I 've never liked those 'not impeding the safe passage' bits, they are relatively new, well they are if you're an old duffer like me, and weren't there when I did my first two oral exams, I don't like them because it doesn't make clear where the difference between impeding the safe passage, and risk of collision comes about and it's always going to be subjective, however humble apologies to all for being misleading And well done malabar for getting in quickly before anybody went off believing me.

 

[alant]

If you have them coming from your port side you are the stand on vessel and should maintain course and speed unless you believe that any ship with which there may be a a risk of collision is not taking appropriate action. Ships in the TSS have no 'extra rights of way' If you slow down or turn to starboard you will cause confusion on their bridge, that is if they have seen you. Night crossings may be better as they are more likely to see your lights.
Be very cautious about turning up traffic, if you turn to starboard to go up traffic for ships approaching from your starboard side you end up effectively contravening the traffic flow for which there can be large fines, it's unlikely that anyone would think that if you just turned 30 degrees to go under the stern of one ship but if you turned 70 degrees for one ship and then chickened out of the passage between the next two ships it starts to look as though you are steaming up the tss the wrong way.
Much better to slow right down to minimum steerage speed and let them pass ahead but maintain your 90 degree heading to the TSS.
Remember the TSS's are your friends, without them you would have the same quantity of traffic approaching from all directions all the way across, the TSS has put all the E going traffic into one lane and all the W into the other making the whole thing much more predictable. The ships in the lanes have no extra rights of way, normal rules still apply, but you do have to cross on a heading of 90 to the traffic lane so on some occasions it may not be possible to sail across.

Broadly agree, but would treat "you are the stand on vessel and should maintain course and speed" with some caution, unless you have ability to predict CPA's.

If sailing across a TSS or other major shipping lanes, always worthwhile putting engine on
(not necessarily in gear), just in case better manouvering required in a hurry.

Slowing down as mentioned, rather than dashing out in front, just in case there's another hidden target just beyond first, is also recommended IMO.

Any changes to course/speed, should be made as obvious as possible, so that the other vessel understands.

 

[Pye_End]

If you have them coming from your port side you are the stand on vessel and should maintain course and speed unless

Assuming you are under power etc.etc. Port side bit is a red herring if sailing.

Turning into the traffic is fine - bold alterations of course and head for the ship's stern shows them what you are doing, and allows you to run the gauntlet quicker than turning with the flow.