SUB-COMMITTEE ON SAFETY OF
NAVIGATION
45th session
Agenda item 3
NAV 45/3/4
15 June 1999
Original: ENGLISH
ROUTEING OF SHIPS, SHIP REPORTING AND RELATED MATTERS (INCLUDING VOYAGE PLANNING)
Recommended tracks for navigation of certain ships Off the Coast of California
Submitted by the United States
SUMMARY
Executive summary: This document sets forth a proposal for recommended tracks off the California coast for commercial ships carrying cargo of hazardous materials and commercial ships of 300 gross tonnage and above, for consideration and approval by the Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation and forwarding to the Maritime Safety Committee for adoption.
Action to be taken: Paragraph 20.
Related documents: General Provisions on Ships' Routeing, Part A and B-VII, MSC 54/23; MSC 51/5; MSC 51/21; NAV 31/2; NAV 30/11.
Introduction
1 The United States proposes the establishment of three recommended tracks for use by certain ships off the coast of California between Pigeon Point and Point Sur as set forth in the annex.
2 Compliance with these proposed recommended tracks is expected to result in safer organization of ship traffic between the IMOapproved Traffic Separation Schemes (TSSs) off San Francisco and Santa Barbara, California. The tracks have been carefully aligned with the existing TSSs to minimize efficient ship operations and minimize costs to the shipping industry. Thus, they form an integral part of the vessel traffic flow between the two TSSs. Compliance with these recommended tracks would also increase the protection of the marine environment by reducing the risk of collisions and groundings. It would therefore substantially improve navigational safety and minimize the risk from the spills of oil and other hazardous materials into one of the most environmentally sensitive areas off the coast of California.
3 The recommended tracks were developed from vessel traffic studies and extensive consultations with representatives from the shipping industry, master mariners, ports, pilots, environmental interests, and representatives of federal, state and local governments. All of these stakeholders' concerns were integrated into the development of the tracks, including the costs and benefits to industry and the environment. The resulting proposal specifically took into account the burden on, and practical navigation aspects for, the shipping industry.
