A traffic separation scheme or TSS is a maritime traffic-management route-system ruled by the International Maritime Organization or IMO. It consists of two (outer) lines, two lanes, and a separation zone. The traffic-lanes (or clearways) indicate the general direction of the ships in that lane; ships navigating within a lane all sail in the same direction or they cross the lane in an angle as close to 90 degrees as possible.
Example of a TSS on a chart
TSSs are used to regulate the traffic at busy, confined waterways or around capes. Within a TSS there is normally at least one traffic-lane in each main-direction, turning-points, deep-water lanes and separation zones between the main traffic lanes. Most TSS schemes include 'inshore traffic zones' between the (outer) lines and the coast. The inshore traffic zone is unregulated and is not intended to be used for through traffic but rather for local traffic, fishing and small craft. A ship navigating in a traffic-lane should sail in the general direction of that lane. The body of water between two opposite lanes is named separation zone and is to be avoided by vessels travelling within the TSS as far as possible except in certain circumstances such as emergencies or for fishing activities. Where needed there are special zones where a lane splits into two channels: one ongoing and the other to the nearby port(s).
Help reduce and manage head on situations for the streams of opposing traffic
Help manage crossing situation arising while entering or coming out of port
In areas of offshore activities, directives regarding safe distance from the installations
Providing routes for deep draught vessels
Avoiding presence of routine traffic from some areas as desired by administration
Better management of inshore traffic zone, fishing zones and areas dangerous to navigation due to presence of isolated dangers and shoal patches in a high density traffic area.
Crossingedit
Top: Without current Bottom: Strong current from the left
If a ship wants to cross a traffic-lane it should do so at a right angle to avoid endangering ship traffic using the traffic-lanes (although traffic in the lane does not automatically have the right-of-way[1]). To minimize the amount of time a crossing ship spend crossing the traffic-lanes, there should be a right angle between the lane direction and the keel direction – even if currents might shift the actual direction of the ship's movement to some angle other than 90 degrees.
TSSs are used in locations where there is a lot of traffic (busy shipping areas) where not regulating the traffic would lead to more accidents. In Europe, many TSS areas are found around the Southern part of the North Sea including the English Channel. Other TSSs are in place off Land's End and around Ouessant (Ushant).
Well-known TSS locations include the English Channel, German Bight, Singapore, and Cape Horn. The Dover Strait/Détroit du Pas de Calais was the first International Maritime Organisation (IMO) approved traffic separation scheme in the world in 1967.[2][3]
TSS in the Channel chartlet published by the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency
IMO, Ships' routeing
Article 10 of the anti-collision rules of the German Water and Shipping Authority (in German)
January 01, 1970
traffic, separation, scheme, also, list, traffic, separation, schemes, traffic, separation, scheme, maritime, traffic, management, route, system, ruled, international, maritime, organization, consists, outer, lines, lanes, separation, zone, traffic, lanes, cle. See also List of traffic separation schemes A traffic separation scheme or TSS is a maritime traffic management route system ruled by the International Maritime Organization or IMO It consists of two outer lines two lanes and a separation zone The traffic lanes or clearways indicate the general direction of the ships in that lane ships navigating within a lane all sail in the same direction or they cross the lane in an angle as close to 90 degrees as possible Example of a TSS on a chart TSSs are used to regulate the traffic at busy confined waterways or around capes Within a TSS there is normally at least one traffic lane in each main direction turning points deep water lanes and separation zones between the main traffic lanes Most TSS schemes include inshore traffic zones between the outer lines and the coast The inshore traffic zone is unregulated and is not intended to be used for through traffic but rather for local traffic fishing and small craft A ship navigating in a traffic lane should sail in the general direction of that lane The body of water between two opposite lanes is named separation zone and is to be avoided by vessels travelling within the TSS as far as possible except in certain circumstances such as emergencies or for fishing activities Where needed there are special zones where a lane splits into two channels one ongoing and the other to the nearby port s The TSS rules are incorporated in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea Under Part B Section I Rule 10 Traffic Separation Schemes An individual TSS is controlled by a vessel traffic service Contents 1 Objectives 2 Crossing 3 Locations 4 See also 5 ReferencesObjectives editObjectives of IMO Routeing Schemes Help reduce and manage head on situations for the streams of opposing traffic Help manage crossing situation arising while entering or coming out of port In areas of offshore activities directives regarding safe distance from the installations Providing routes for deep draught vessels Avoiding presence of routine traffic from some areas as desired by administration Better management of inshore traffic zone fishing zones and areas dangerous to navigation due to presence of isolated dangers and shoal patches in a high density traffic area Crossing edit nbsp Top Without currentBottom Strong current from the left If a ship wants to cross a traffic lane it should do so at a right angle to avoid endangering ship traffic using the traffic lanes although traffic in the lane does not automatically have the right of way 1 To minimize the amount of time a crossing ship spend crossing the traffic lanes there should be a right angle between the lane direction and the keel direction even if currents might shift the actual direction of the ship s movement to some angle other than 90 degrees Locations editFurther information List of traffic separation schemes TSSs are used in locations where there is a lot of traffic busy shipping areas where not regulating the traffic would lead to more accidents In Europe many TSS areas are found around the Southern part of the North Sea including the English Channel Other TSSs are in place off Land s End and around Ouessant Ushant Well known TSS locations include the English Channel German Bight Singapore and Cape Horn The Dover Strait Detroit du Pas de Calais was the first International Maritime Organisation IMO approved traffic separation scheme in the world in 1967 2 3 Other TSS areas can be found in the Mediterranean Sea western side of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific See also editOswego Guardian Texanita collision Vessel traffic serviceReferences edit Collision of the Cornelis Vrolijk and the ferry Primrose Dutch visited 20 November 2009 The Dover Strait Dft gov uk Retrieved 2012 10 15 Fairway PDF Autumn 2011 Retrieved 2012 10 15 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help TSS in the Channel chartlet published by the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency IMO Ships routeing Article 10 of the anti collision rules of the German Water and Shipping Authority in German Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Traffic separation scheme amp oldid 1202870361, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
