Traffic Separation Schemes Research Articles

Maritime Area Control

Traditionally ‘Freedom of the Seas’ has meant that the ‘Master under God’ has been answerable to no one for his ship handling and manœuvring, except in the case of collision, when he has been answerable to the Courts. Congestion of certain sea areas and waterways has created situations where some restriction to this freedom has become acceptable in the interests of general safety; harbour radar procedures, the Dover Strait and other traffic separation schemes are the most well-known examples. Such areas will increase in number and size as the volume of trade increases.

Amending the Collision Regulations

A previous paper, developing the idea of automated routing of vessels stated ‘the full scope of automated systems at sea is inconceivable in terms of compliance with the old (collision) Regulations. Only an entirely new code of manœuvre will give the dimensions and scope needed.’ Again, it was suggested that the Collisions Regulations would need to be completely re-thought and re-written in the light of present capabilities and possibilities. This paper, while not endeavouring completely to re-write the Collision Regulations, tries to outline the form the new Regulations should take without entering into too much detail, with particular relevance to the traffic separation schemes presently under consideration by Imco and leading to the future prospect of complete automation as envisaged in the article under reference.