11 This area is of great economic importance. There are several economically important ports in the area, including San Francisco Bay, Pillar Point, Monterey, Morro Bay, Moss Landing, Santa Cruz, and San Luis. The value of the fish landed in this area well exceeds United States $40,000,000 annually. The fishing grounds are generally found 5-10 nautical miles offshore. This area also serves as feeding grounds for whales and other important species; it thus supports a booming, multimillion dollar whale watching and ecotourism industry.
Proposal
12 The recommended tracks for navigation by commercial ships of 300 gross tonnage and above and HAZMAT ships will facilitate the safe, efficient and environmentally sound flow of ship traffic off the California coast. The recommended tracks follow as closely as possible the existing traffic pattrns off the coast. Hydrographic surveys of the area were conducted off the coast of California and the appropriate aids to navigation exist. A copy of the chartlet of the area is included in the Annex.
13 This proposal provides for a safe and efficient flow of traffic of commercial ships of 300 gross tonnage and above through an area of high use of the coast of California. This flow is safe and efficient because the proposal recommended tracks have been carefully aligned with the existing southern approach to the San Francisco TSS and the TSS off Santa Barbara, California. The recommended tracks in relation to Pigeon Point were determined by charting a course that is aligned with the southern approach to the San Francisco TSS. The placement of the recommended tracks in relation to Point Sur was done to closely align the tracks with the TSSs off Santa Barbara, California. As a result, these proposed recommended tracks are closer to shore at Pigeon Point than Point Sur.
14 Compliance with the recommended tracks would increase safety because the faster moving commercial ships of 300 gross tonnage and above are shifted away from the slower moving fishing vessels, recreational vessels, and HAZMAT ships. By separating these faster moving commercial ships into northbound and southbound routes, the proposal will reduce the risk of head on collisions between these ships, HAZMAT ships and other types of vessels. The recommended tracks will also make the traffic patterns of ships in this area much more predictable and clearer to all mariners.
15 The recommended tracks also increase the protection of a biologically diverse area of the marine environment. Commercial ships of 300 gross tonnage and above carry large amounts of bunker fuel and cargo which can cause significant damage to natural resources, biodiversity, other aspects of the marine environment, and the economic productivity of the area. Ships involved in casualties worldwide in 1997 and 1996 were reportedly carrying more than 117,000 tonnes of bunker fuel. A spill of only 10,000 gallons of bunker fuel can result in significant damages to the marine environment and serious economic losses for marine-dependent industries such as fisheries and tourism.
16 Compliance with the recommended tracks by commercial ships of 300 gross tonnage and above will increase safety and protection of the marine environment with very little disruption to ship operations. Although this proposal will recommend a shift in this traffic flow seaward several miles, it is expected to add only 10-19 minutes in transit time between the TSSs off San Francisco and Santa Barbara, California.
17 Compliance by HAZMAT ships with the recommended track of 25 nautical miles offshore would result in a traffic flow which is generally consistent with their existing traffic pattern. It is also consistent with their use of the western approach to the San Francisco TSS. Therefore, there should be little additional economic costs for HAZMAT ship operations.
