4.3. Ships’ Routeing.

Today, in accordance with regulation 10.2 of the revised chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (1974 SOLAS Convention), IMO is recognized as the only international body for establishing and adopting measures on an international level concerning routeing and areas to be avoided by ships or certain classes of ships; whilst, in accordance with regulation 11.2 of the revised chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, IMO is recognized as the only international body for developing guidelines, criteria and regulations on an international level, including adoption of ship reporting systems.

Ships' Routeing is intended primarily for Administrations responsible for planning and supporting routeing systems for use by international shipping.

There are two categories of routeing systems. The first category of routeing systems includes traffic separation schemes, two-way routes, recommended tracks, areas to be avoided, inshore traffic zones, roundabouts, precautionary areas and deep-water routes. The second category is archipelagic sea lanes. Part A consists of General Provisions on Ships' Routeing which have been developed to ensure that all adopted routeing systems conform to the same general criteria and principles. Parts B to F include descriptions of routeing systems and associated rules and recommendations on navigation which have been adopted by the Organization. Part G includes descriptions of mandatory ship reporting systems and mandatory routeing measures which have been adopted by the Organization. Part H takes into account the unique character of achipelagic sea lanes as a routeing system and provides guidance for the preparation, consideration and adoption of proposals for the adoption, designation and substitution of archipelagic sea lanes.

Rule 10 of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREG 1972), as amended by Assembly resolutions A.464(XII), A.626(15), A.678(16), A.910(22) and A.1004(25), prescribes the conduct of vessels within or near traffic separation schemes adopted by IMO. The text of rule 10 is reproduced in part B.

Through its appropriate bodies, IMO keeps the subject of ships' routeing under continuous review by adopting new routeing systems and amending or, when necessary, withdrawing existing systems.

A Government intending to establish a new or amended routeing system should be guided by this publication and follow all recommended consultative procedures to ensure that a proposed system will comply with ihe relevant General Provisions on Ships' Routeing in part A and with part H.

Proposed routeing measures should be submitted to the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue at least three months before a scheduled meeting. The Sub-Committee will evaluate a proposal for technical compliance with the General Provisions and make a recommendation regarding its adoption. Submissions should include, in addition to the description of the routeing measure and associated chartlet, the reference chart or charts listed in the description of the routeing measure with the proposed routeing system delineated thereon. Member Governments should also take into account MSC/Circ. 1060 "Guidance notes on the preparation of proposals on ships' routeing systems and ship reporting systems for submission to the Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation*" and its amendment in MSC.1/Circ.1060/Add.1.

The Maritime Safety Committee will adopt routeing measures in accordance with Assembly resolu­tions A.572(14), as amended, and A.858(20).