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Nigel and Aubrey,

Thank you for confirming what I vaguely remember from sailing there over 15
years ago. The reason why I am asking this is because we also have traffic
separation schemes here at the entrances to New York, Boston, etc. But notes in
my NOAA charts explicitely state:

"TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME"

"One-way traffic lanes overprinted on this chart are RECOMMENDED [their
emphasis] for use by all vessels traveling between the points involved. They
have been designed to aid in the prevention of collisions at the approach to
[xxx] Harbor, but are not intended in any way to supersede or alter the
applicable Rules of the Road."

Now, am I misinterpreting this, if I think I can completely ignore the traffic
lanes, if I chose to do so, or is this only meant as a restatement of Rule
10(a), meaning I don't need to use the separation scheme, but IF I get in, I
have to follow rule 10, and all the other ones? And how would all this square
with Rule 10(d)(i), which more or less states that a vessel over 20m must use
the lane, if possible?

What is the wording on the piloting directions or charts for the the English
Channel? Is the use of the separation schemes mandatory there (save for the
provisions of Rule 10(d)(ii))?

I am not interested in a discussion about whether it would be suicidal ar at
least extremely silly to ignore the traffic lanes. I just want to understand
what, exactly, the regulations demand from me, and whether that might be a
different thing from place to place.


Herbert Prinz (from 1368950/-4603950/4182550 ECEF)

   

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