6 RELEVANT RULES AND REGULATIONS IN FORCE IN THE AREA OF THE
SYSTEM
The international regulations for preventing collisions at sea are
applicable throughout the area of coverage of the proposed system.
The "Off Ushant" traffic separation scheme has been approved
by IMO and therefore rule 10 applies (document MSC XXXVIII/22, annex 7, pages 7 and 8).
In addition to the international regulatory scheme there are national
regulations regarding vessel traffic and ship reporting. These are specifically:
- decree No.84/93 of the port-admiral for the Atlantic of 11
October 1993 regulating navigation in the "Off Ushant" TSS, the associated
inshore traffic area and the fairways and waters of Fromveur, Four, Helle and Raz de Sein.
Repealing a previous decree of 14 December 1978, it makes reporting mandatory for ships
intending to use the north- eastbound lane of the TSS (situated in territorial waters), as
well as inshore fairways. This decree repeats the provisions of the MSC document
concerning the conditions for entry to the north-eastbound lane.
The conditions for entry to the fairways and waterways are also
specified.
- joint prefectorial decree 326 Cherbourg/18/81 Brest of 13 May
1981 regulating navigation in the approaches to the French coast in the Channel and the
Atlantic in order to prevent accidental marine pollution.
This decree, concerning ships having hazardous cargoes, stipulates in
particular:
- for ships intending to enter French territorial waters,
mandatory ship reporting with a six-hour advance warning. In addition to information
concerning the identity of the ship, the report must specify the place and time of entry
into French waters, the port arrived from and the destination, the cargo and the state of
manoeuvrability and navigational capacities
- a mandatory 16 VHF watch while travelling through territorial
waters,
- navigation at less than 7 miles from the coast is forbidden for
ships of more than 1,600 gross tonnage,
- mandatory reporting to the French shipping authorities of any
damage occurring at less than 50 miles from the French coast.
Within the area of applicability of the proposed system, the provisions
of this decree apply more specifically in the following cases:
- transit, via the north-eastbound lane of the TSS, of a ship
having a cargo which is not prohibited in this lane but which comes under the decree,
