NOTICE OF THE SHIPS’ ROUTEING SYSTEM FOR CENTRAL WATERS OF BOHAI BAY (DRAFT ON A TRIAL BASIS)——津航通〔2024〕0078

The Ships’ Routeing System for Central Waters?of Bohai Bay is formulated and implemented on a trial basis.?The relevant English information regarding this routeing system is announced as follows:

?

SHIPS’ ROUTEING SYSTEM FOR CENTRAL WATERS OF BOHAI BAY?(DRAFT ON A TRIAL BASIS)

?

1. Reference Charts and Coordinate System

Charts No. 1304/22001/22122/23001 by the Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China.

Charts No. 11010/11661/11700/11710/11800 by the Navigation Guarantee Bureau of the PLA Navy Staff Department.

The coordinate points of this routeing system adopt the National Geodetic Coordinate System 2000 (Navigational purposes are equivalent to WGS-84 World Geodetic Coordinate System).

2. Applicable Geographical Area

Ships’ Routeing System for Central Waters?of Bohai Bay consists of No.1 Traffic Separation Scheme, No.1 Precautionary Area, No.2 Traffic Separation Scheme and No.2 Precautionary Area.

2.1 No.1 Traffic Separation Scheme

2.1.1 No.1 Traffic Separation Scheme consists of Separation Zone and Traffic Lane.

2.1.2 Separation Zone of No.1 Traffic Separation Scheme, 6.8 nautical miles in length?and 0.5 nautical miles in width, is centered on the line?connecting the following geographical positions:

K: 38°41′54.690″N, 118°30′27.430″E

L: 38°39′02.102″N, 118°38′19.806″E

2.1.3 Traffic Lane of No.1 Traffic Separation Scheme

(1) The North Boundary Line of the Traffic Lane is the line connecting the following two geographical positions:

C: 38°43′03.071″N, 118°31′08.146″E

D: 38°40′10.498″N, 118°39′00.476″E

(2)?The South Boundary Line of the Traffic Lane is the line connecting the following two geographical positions:

E: 38°37′53.688″N, 118°37′39.136″E

F: 38°40′46.353″N, 118°29′46.806″E

(3)?The westbound traffic lane is the area between Separation Zones and the North Boundary Line, with the length?of 6.8 nautical miles, the width of 1 nautical mile, and the main traffic direction is 295° (Ships with true course).

(4)?The eastbound traffic lane is the area between Separation Zones and the South Boundary Line, with the length?of 6.8 nautical miles, the width of 1 nautical mile, and the main traffic direction is 115° (Ships with true course).

2.2 No.1 Precautionary Area

No.1 Precautionary Area is bounded by the arc centered on point M, geographical position (38°38′25.091″N, 118°40′00.974″E) with the radius of 1.925 nautical miles, and the line connecting the following three geographical positions successively.

D: 38°40′10.498″N, 118°39′00.476″E

L: 38°39′02.102″N, 118°38′19.806″E

E: 38°37′53.688″N, 118°37′39.136″E

2.3 No.2 Traffic Separation Scheme

2.3.1 No.2 Traffic Separation Scheme consists of Separation Zone and Traffic Lane.

2.3.2 Separation Zone of No.2 Traffic Separation Scheme, 4.85 nautical miles in length and 0.5 nautical miles in width, is centered on the line connecting the following?two?geographical positions:

I: 38°45′38.812″N, 118°20′13.562″E

J: 38°43′35.810″N, 118°25′50.500″E

2.3.3 Traffic Lane of No.2 Traffic Separation Scheme

(1) The North Boundary Line of the Traffic Lane is the line connecting the following two geographical positions:

A: 38°46′47.201″N, 118°20′54.232″E

B: 38°44′44.197″N, 118°26′31.185″E

(2)?The South Boundary Line of the Traffic Lane is the line connecting the following two geographical positions:

G: 38°42′27.533″N, 118°25′09.845″E

H: 38°44′30.603″N, 118°19′32.892″E

(3)?The westbound traffic lane is the area between Separation Zones and the North Boundary Line, with the length?of 4.85 nautical miles, the width of 1 nautical mile, and the main traffic direction is 295° (Ships with true course).

(4)?The eastbound traffic lane is the area between Separation Zones and the South Boundary Line, with the length?of 4.85 nautical miles, the width of 1 nautical mile, and the main traffic direction is 115° (Ships with true course).

2.4 No.2 Precautionary Area

No.2 Precautionary Area is bounded by the line connecting the following four geographical positions successively.

B: 38°44′44.197″N, 118°26′31.185″E

C: 38°43′03.071″N, 118°31′08.146″E

F: 38°40′46.353″N, 118°29′46.806″E

G: 38°42′27.533″N, 118°25′09.845″E

No.2 Precautionary Area is in a rectangular shape, 3.98 nautical miles in length and 2.5 nautical miles in width.

3.?The Competent Authority

3.1?The Competent Authority is Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration, P. R. China.

3.2?The Vessel Traffic Service Center of Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration (hereinafter referred to as Tianjin VTS) are responsible for vessel traffic management and report in accordance with the responsibilities.

4.?Special Provisions

4.1?Ships following this routeing system are not required to report when entering or leaving this area.

4.2 Ships navigating within this routeing system shall comply with the following regulations:

(1) They shall not be exempt from the responsibilities and obligations prescribed by the?International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972.

(2) They shall keep watch on VHF Channel 09.

(3) Ships are not allowed to cross the traffic lane unless permitted. If crossing is unavoidable, they shall report to Tianjin VTS and inform surrounding ships of their status in advance. Crossing should only occur when it is confirmed that no ships are approaching within the traffic lane.

(4) When entering or leaving the traffic lane, ships shall navigate with an angle as small as possible with the general direction of flow within the lane.

(5) When overtaking is necessary, overtaking vessel shall get permission from the overtaken vessel, and report to Tianjin VTS in advance. Overtaking shall not result in close-quarters situation with other vessels.

(6) Anchoring, fishing, and farming are prohibited in the Precautionary Areas, Traffic Lanes, and nearby waters of their terminations. Other activities within the routeing system area are subject to approval by the maritime safety administration.

(7)?Ships shall navigate with particular caution proceeding into and out of the Precautionary Areas as well as in the Precautionary Areas. Good seamanship practices shall be employed at all times.

4.3 Ships in violation of this Routeing System shall be subject to penalties by the competent authority in accordance with relevant laws, regulations and rules.

5.?Implementation

This ships’ routeing system shall be implemented on June 1, 2024, on a trial basis for a period of one year.

Appendix:?Schematic Diagram of Ships’ Routeing System for Central Waters?of Bohai Bay (Draft on a Trial Basis)