"5.3 A Government or Governments planning, implementing and
maintaining mandatory routeing systems should consider whether, because of the particular
circumstances in the area or parts of the area concerned, an associated monitoring
service, a reporting service or VTS should be established in accordance with the
guidelines adopted by IMO for such services*, as appropriate."
5.4 Routeing systems should not be established in areas where the
instability of the sea-bed is such that frequent changes in the alignment and positions of
the main channels, and thus of the routeing system itself, are likely.
5.5 When establishing areas to be avoided by all ships or by
certain classes of ship, the necessity for creating such areas should be well demonstrated
and the reasons stated. In general, these areas should be established only in places where
inadequate survey or insufficient provision of aids to navigation may lead to danger of
stranding, or where local knowledge is considered essential for safe passage) or where
there is the possibility that unacceptable damage to the environment could result from a
casualty, or where there might be hazard to a vital aid to navigation. These areas shall
not be regarded as prohibited areas unless specifically so stated; the classes of ship
which should avoid the areas should be considered in each particular case.
5.6 Governments considering establishing a new routeing system or
amending an existing one should consult at. an early stage with:
.1 mariners using the area;
.2 authorities responsible for aids to navigation and for
hydrographic surveys and nautical publications;
.3 port authorities; and
.4 organizations concerned with fishing, offshore exploration or
exploitation and environmental protection, as appropriate.
This consultation process is implied in paragraphs 3.4, 3.8, 5.3, 5.5
and 6.2.
