ROR - Rule 10 Traffic Separation Schemes

Section I – Conduct of vessels in any condition of visibility

Rule 10 - Traffic Separation Schemes

(a) This Rule applies to traffic separation schemes adopted by the Organisation and does not reliever 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 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 metres in length, sailing vessels and vessels engaged in fishing may use the inshore traffic zone.

(ii) Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (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 separation 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 metres in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the safe passage of a powerdriven vessel following a traffic lane.

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

(l) A vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre when engaged in an operation for the laying, servicing or picking up of a submarine cable, within a traffic separation scheme, is exempted from complying with this Rule to the extent necessary to carry out the operation.


Question & Answers



Q1. How do you join a lane?
A1. At the start of a lane or at a small an angle as possible to the lane.

Q2. How do you leave a lane?
A2. At the end of a lane or at a small an angle as possible to the lane.

Q3. How do you cross the lanes?
A3. At 90 degrees to the general flow of traffic (DO NOT SAY TO THE LANE)

Q4. Why 90 degrees?
A4. Because it's the quickest way across, and vessels in the lane can see the aspect of your vessel.


Q5. If crossing a lane, what 3 vessels do not impede any vessel using a lane?
A5. A fishing vessel, a sailing vessel and a power-driven vessel under 20metres.

Q6. What vessels can use the inshore zone?
A6. A power-driven vessel under 20 metres, sailing vessels, fishing vessels, vessels going to or from a port, going from port to port in the scheme, going into anchor to do emergency repairs, to avoid immediate danger, to lay submarine cables or to do repairs to buoys within the scheme.

Q7. What vessels can use the traffic separation zone?
A7. Fishing vessels, anchor for emergency repairs, crossing vessels, to avoid immediate danger, to lay submarine cables or to do repairs to buoys within the scheme.

Q8. Where can you anchor in a scheme?
A8. Anywhere, as long as it's to do emergency repairs, try and avoid anchoring in the lanes and at the terminations.

Q9. What would you do if you had to stop your main engine to do emergency repairs in a lane and had to anchor?
A9. Call up the port and advise them, also put out a security warning other vessels that you're at anchor, put up anchor lights and daytime signal.

Q10. Where can you fish in the scheme?
A10. Anywhere, but if fishing in a lane then go with the flow of traffic, and try and avoid fishing at the terminations.

Q11. Would you fish in a traffic separation scheme?
A11. This is a personnel question, there is a lot of large traffic there; you would be putting your crew and vessel into dangerous situations.

Q12. Could a supertanker leave a lane at 90 degrees come into the inshore zone to a pilot station, pick up a pilot and then cross to the opposite inshore zone at 90 degrees?
A12. No, he would have to leave the lane at a small an angle as possible to the lanes.

Q13. If you're in a power-driven vessel, crossing a scheme and on your port bow is another power-driven vessel in a lane, the bearing are steady and the distance is closing, what are you going to do?
A13. First find out length of vessel you are in.

Q14. Does it matter what size the power-driven vessel is that you're in?
A14. Yes, if under 20 metres and crossing a lane, then your not allowed to impede ANY vessel that is in the traffic lane that is going with the flow of traffic, if over 20 metres you would stand-on with caution maintaining your course and speed, the Power-driven vessel that is in the lane has to leave the lane at 90 degrees to take the risk of collision out.

Q15. Your in a 30 metres power-driven vessel crossing a lane, and there is a power-driven vessel on your port bow in a lane, the bearings are steady and the distance is closing, what are you going to do?
A15. Stand-on with caution, maintaining your course and speed.

Q16. How would the power-driven vessel leave the lane?
A16. He would make an early and bold alteration to starboard sounding 1 short blast on the whistle indicating he is altering to starboard.

Q17. Would he line up your stern and go around it?
A17. No, this would be a close quarter situation and could make you alter your course and put into a collision course with another vessel.

Q18. After the vessel came around your stern, how would he get back into the lane?
A18. At a small angle as possible to the general flow of traffic.

Q19. If you where in any vessel, just outside the scheme, would you manoeuvre here?
A19. No, it says if not using the scheme, then to give it a wide a margin as possible.

Q20. If you're fishing in a lane, and there is a power-driven vessel overtaking you, what are you going to do?
A20. Stand-on with caution, you have to use rule 13 Overtaking.

Q21. If you're crossing a lane in a fishing vessel and any vessel is on your port bow in a lane, the bearings are steady and the distance is closing, what are you going to do?
A21. If you're crossing and the bearings are steady, then you have to give-way to all vessels in a lane.