5 According to statistics provided by Turkey (NAV 43/INF.6, annex D) the number of accidents in the Straits has reduced significantly as a result of implementing in 1994 the IMO adopted routeing system and the associated Rules and Recommendations on navigation together with the operations of a maritime traffic control organization for the Straits. This is a welcome improvement which should be maintained. Changes should not be made if they are likely to result in a reduction of standards of safety.
6 The intention of Turkey to establish a modern VTS in the Straits in the near future has been welcomed as a measure likely to produce improvement in safety and efficiency of navigation. Further measures taken by Turkey which are likely to improve traffic safety include the relocation of pilot boarding places to safer locations outside the traffic lanes of the traffic separation schemes and the designation of a new anchorage area south of Istanbul.
Comment on the current situation
7 At its seventieth session the Committee noted information provided by Turkey (MSC 70/INF.20) that some large vessels are unable to comply fully with the established traffic separation schemes due to restrictions in their manoeuvrability. According to Turkish information paper NAV 43/INF.5 ships of more than 150 metres in length are unable to keep to the appropriate lane of the traffic separation scheme when proceeding through the narrow and winding parts of the Strait of Istanbul.
8 According to information provided by Turkey (NAV 43/INF.6) a large number of vessels of over 150 metres in length pass through the Straits. In 1996 7236 vessels of over 150 metres in length passed through the Strait of Istanbul. These vessels would have difficulty in complying with the traffic separation schemes.
9 Rule 1 (d) of the Collision Regulations states that "Traffic Separation Schemes may be adopted by the Organization for the purpose of these Rules". It is implied that traffic separation schemes must be designed so as to ensure that ships using the schemes shall be able to fully comply with the Collision Regulations, in particular Rule 10 of these Regulations. The Committee has adopted a new paragraph 6.8 to Section 6 of the "General Provisions on Ships' Routeing" which states:
"Traffic separation schemes shall be designed so as to enable ships using them to fully comply at all times with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended."
10 As some large vessels are unable to fully comply with the traffic separation schemes temporary suspensions of two-way traffic are made at frequent intervals. However, it would appear from the statistics that some vessels of over 150 metres in length are expected to pass through the traffic separation schemes at times when two-way traffic is not suspended. Such vessels are not able to fully comply with Rule 10 of the Collision Regulations.
11 Frequent changes in the operational status of a traffic separation scheme, or parts of it, cause uncertainty in the application of the Collision Regulations. No other IMO adopted traffic separation schemes are subject to frequent suspensions.
Proposals
