Traffic seperation lanes

[chappy]

Can i sail on my 27ft yacht in a traffic seperation lane, or is this for ships only.
I know if you want to cross them you have to do it right angles to the direction of flow, but if i am going in the same diretion as the flow can i stay in them or have i got to stay to the side of them?
Cheers
Dave.

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[hebdena]

For me it would be common sense to avoid seperation schemes in a small boat unless crossing. I only have large ship experience of using them and the last thing I would want to see in a seperation lane is a yacht going the same way! Things can be a bit frought when overtaking or being overtaken on a ship in a lane. Another ship only a mile way is very close when you are 25,000 tonnes and doing 20+ knots and having yachts or small slow boats to deal with as well would make the situation a bit stressful.

Regards..............Andrew

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[Piere]

I wouldn't recommend sailing in the TSS even if going the right way.

Ships are there for their own and our safety. At 20 plus knots a ship will curse your presence,worse still you might cause a serious accident ,death or at the very least the loss of your yacht. ( and they do come up on you fast , at 2 metres above the surface of the water your eye sight of the horizon is less than 3 miles)

I cross the lanes between kent and France quite frequently in the channel. My aim is to get in and out of them as quickly as posible and maintain a steady course , if you are steering your yacht in an erratic manner it WILL confuse the person on watch (if one is present)

One thing I will add though is that if a collision seems imminent and I have experienced this several times my first course is to slow down and let the ship pass across my bows. If I have to make a turn it will be in the direction of flow and then turn back on course as soon as posible. Not good idea to turn into the traffic flow.

In the last two years I have noticed skippers of these large tankers making definate course changes to avoid us humble yachtsmen. Which is good news .

Best to travel outside the lane where the water may be too shallow for them to
venture.

Any views any one !!!!

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[Vara]

Yes
COLREGS apply:<font color=red>

Rule 10

Traffic Separation Schemes

(a) This rule applies to traffic separation schemes adopted by the Organization and does not relieve any vessel of her obligation under any other rule.

(b) A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall:

(i) Proceed in the appropriate traffic lane in the general direction of traffic flow for that lane.

(ii) So far as is practicable keep clear of a traffic separation line or separation zone.

(iii) Normally join or leave a traffic lane at the termination of the lane, but when joining or leaving from either side shall do so at as small an angle to the general direction of traffic flow as practicable.

(c) A vessel shall so far as practicable avoid crossing traffic lanes, but if obliged to do so shall cross on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow.

(d)

(i) A vessel shall not use an inshore traffic zone when she can safely use the appropriate traffic lane within the adjacent traffic separation scheme. However, vessels of less than 20 meters in length, sailing vessels and vessels engaged in fishing may use the inshore traffic zone.

(ii) Notwithstanding subparagraph (d)(i), a vessel may use an inshore traffic Zone when en route to or from a port, offshore installation or structure, pilot station or any other place situated within the inshore traffic zone, or to avoid immediate danger.

(e) A vessel, other than a crossing vessel or a vessel joining or leaving a lane shall not normally enter a separation zone or cross a separation line except:

(i) in cases of emergency to avoid immediate danger;

(ii) to engage in fishing within a separation zone.

(f) A vessel navigating in areas near the terminations of traffic separation schemes shall do so with particular caution.

(g) A vessel shall so far as practicable avoid anchoring in a traffic separation scheme or in areas near its terminations.

(h) A vessel not using a traffic separating scheme shall avoid it by as wide a margin as is practicable.

(i) A vessel engaged in fishing shall not impede the passage of any vessel following a traffic lane.

(j) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the safe passage of a power driven vessel following a traffic lane.

(k) A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver when engaged in an operation for the maintenance of safety of navigation in a traffic separating scheme is exempted from complying with this Rule to the extent necessary to carry out the operation.

(l) A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver when engaged in an operation for the laying, servicing or picking up a submarine cable, within a traffic separating scheme, is exempted from complying with this Rule to the extent necessary to carry out the operation.</font color=red>

(J) is probably the most pertinent one for a sailing boat.

But FWIW I'd avoid using them if you possibly can

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[chappy]

Thanks for all your advice, sounds like i better avoid them if & when i do my first cross channel.
regards
Dave.

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[webcraft]

It is my duty under the colregs not to impede a ship using a TSS.

If I am crossing a TSS (at right angles) and find I am on a collision course with a ship then I turn (definitively and in plenty of time) onto a course that will very clearly result in me passing astern of said ship.

This may well involve turning temporarily against the direction of the traffic flow, but if it is a single ship then this still seems to be the safest, logical thing to do. Slowing down may seem like a good idea, it may not be obvious to the ship, while turning the other way may make him think you are going to attempt to cut across his bows. Aiming for his stern wil always be a safe move (unless there is another one right behind, see comment below)

Most of my TSS experieince has been in the North Channel however, where it is unusual to have to deal with more than one ship every few miles. It may be a different story in the English Channel if the shipping is nose to tail . . .

- Nick

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[AndrewB]

Agree totally. I've noticed that most ships tend to hug the outside of TSS's leaving space for the faster ships to pass inside: perhaps also so they can turn quickly starboard into 'safe water' in the event of problems ahead. So even hugging close to the outside of a TSS is not necessarily wise, in very busy places like the Dover Straight.

 

[roger]

I would certainly avoid the one off the North German coast. Sailors have in the past been fined "on the spot" by German coast guards for getting within half a mile of the inshore separation zone. Macmillans had a pertinent warning in their 2000 Edition. Things MAY have changed now.

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[Piere]

Hi webcraft (nick)
The most important thing I have found and My experience has come not only from my own real life encounters but also from talking to others is to make your intentions clearly definate.
Yes we do encounter at times 6 or 7 ships nose to tail, quite often they will be engaged in their own overtaking manouvers . I have great respect for these vessels and will always calculate every instance as a seperate event and act accordingly.

On one crossing I was cruising in company of two other yachts (single handed)and I made a simple remark over the vhf "wheres all the shipping tonight" to my colleauges.
15 minute later about 8 ships appeared over the horizon and my passage was stopped for about half an hour as I let these pass . No drama for me or the traffic in the lanes . just a little late making the bar at Boulogne yacht club.

Like every thing in life there is no hard and fast rule to cover every eventuality

Rule books are for idiots to obey and for sensible people for guidance.

Hope you enjoy your cruising and have a safe time on the water
Piere



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[Trevor_swfyc]

Piere,
Here's one for your rule book, if you are a yacht spend the minimum amount of time in a shipping lane.
I would no more consider travelling up a shipping lane in my yacht than going round the M25 in a peddle car.
In either case get it wrong and you are going to end up dead or seriously out of pocket see <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-newsroom/mcga-dops_enforce_newsroom-prosecutions/mcga-dops_enforce_prosecutions_2002.htm>here</A> and page down to 6th Oct 2001.
Rule books may be for idiots but it certainly hurts when they throw it at you! /forums/images/icons/frown.gif
Trevor

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[Guest]

Practical advise - leave TSS to bigger boys and if you can sail alongside but outside the TSS ..... then isn't that better for all ?

Technically I cannot see any reason you cannot - but should you not do 12 - 20 knots as the big boys - you may create a situation that is unnecessary.

In reality TSS are set up for large vessels to stay clear of each other in restricted waters ....... if you draw for example 30ft or more then OK ..... but I don't think you do ?? (Note the 30ft is NOT a rule or measure that is used to determine validity to use etc. - just a number from me to emphasise the point ...)


<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/searider/

 

[Guest]

The biggest thing is ....

Make your intentions clear and obvious.

Any turn you make must be bold, clearly seen and understood to be that you intend safe passage of yourself and the other(s).

In a yacht case .... stopping is often useless - as you are not radar visible enough to be plotted at sufficient range, also eyeball is not enough due to your size ...... BUT turning will often be seen realtively clearly and understood. I speak from having steamed up channel many times in my former Merch days on large and small ships. The ones I hated were the ditherers and those that turned a few dgrees forcing me to have questions about what the guy was doing ..... even had a stupid Race guy demand I turn a 270,000 ton tanker away from him one time .... as he said - I am racing and stand-on - you must alter your course ..... My reply is not printable when I have no water under me literally at draft of more than 60ft !!!!

Which way you turn is not so important - it is the amount that you turn ....... with the flow - show your arse, against the flow - show your other side ...... so that it is clear that you will not approach closer and will be passed clear.

Playing about with speed is a disaster waiting to happen. You have a wheel or tiller in your hand - use it.

And don't waste time using a VHF ..... as the OOW must often turn away from the bridge windows to use it .... as well as you probably having to stick head inside cabin entrance etc. He's going at a speed that is FAR in excess of you .....


<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/searider/