Section 2. Steering and Sailing Rules in Each Traffic Route
(Uraga Suido Traffic Route and Naka-no-Se Traffic Route)
Article 11.
When a vessel intends to navigate Uraga Suido Traffic Route along the course of the route, the vessel shall keep to that part of the route which lies on the starboard side of the central line of the route.
2. when a vessel intends to navigate Naka-no-Se Traffic Route along the course of the route, the vessel shall navigate northward.
Article 12.
A vessel (other than a huge vessel) navigating or staying, so as to involve risk of collision with a huge vessel which has been navigating Uraga Suido Traffic Route along the course of such route and which intends to enter from such route into Naka-no-Se Traffic Route, shall keep out of the way of the huge vessel. In such case, the provisions of Article 3 Paragraph 1 of this Law and Article 9 Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3, Article 13 Paragraph 1, Article 14 Paragraph 1, the first portion of Article 15 Paragraph 1 and Article 18 Paragraph 1 (only such cases as related to item (3) and item (4)) of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall not apply to the huge vessel.
2. The provisions of Article 3 Paragraph 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a huge vessel which navigates Uraga Suido Traffic Route along the course of such route in the case where the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be applicable.
(Irago Suido Traffic Route)
Article 13.
When a vessel intends to navigate Irago Suido Traffic Route along the course of such route, the vessel shall, as far as practicable, keep to that part of the route which lies on the starboard side of the central line of the route.
Article 14.
A vessel (other than a huge vessel) navigating Irago Suido Traffic Route along the course of such route shall, when in meeting situation with a huge vessel navigating the same route along the course of the route, so as to involve risk of collision, keep out of the way of the huge vessel. In such case, the provisions of Article 9 Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3, Article 14 Paragraph 1 and Article 18 Paragraph 1 (only such cases as related to item (3) and item (4)) of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall not apply to the huge vessel.
2. The provisions of Article 3 Paragraph 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the huge vessel which navigates Irago Suido Traffic Route along the course of such route in the case where the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be applicable.
3. The Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard may, when a huge vessel and another vessel (the length of which is that prescribed in the Ministry of LIT Ordinance or more, but which is not classified as a huge vessel), intending to navigate Irago Suido Traffic Route along the course of such route are anticipated to meet with each other in the same route and such a meeting situation is regarded as dangerous, direct such other vessel, by means of signal or other method, to wait outside of the traffic route for a period considered necessary to avert the meeting situation with the huge vessel in the route.
4. The method and meaning of the signal to be given under the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by the Ministry of LIT Ordinance.
(Akashi Kaikyo Traffic Route)
Article 15.
When a vessel intends to navigate Akashi Kaikyo Traffic Route along the course of such route, the vessel shall keep to that part of the route which lies on the starboard side of the central line of the route.
(Bisan Seto East Traffic Route, Uko East Traffic Route and Uko West Traffic Route)
Article 16.
When a vessel intends to navigate Bisan Seto East Traffic Route along the course of such route, the vessel shall keep to that part of the route which lies on the starboard side of the central line of the route.
2. When a vessel intends to navigate Uko East Traffic Route along the course of such route, the vessel shall navigate northward.
3. When a vessel intends to navigate Uko West Traffic Route along the course of such route, the vessel shall navigate southward.
Article 17.
A vessel navigating Uko East Traffic Route or Uko West Traffic Route along the course of such route, so as to involve risk of collision with a huge vessel navigating Bisan Seto East Traffic Route along the course of such route, shall keep out of the way of the huge vessel. In such case, the provisions of Article 9 Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3, the first portion of Article 15 Paragraph 1 and Article 18 Paragraph 1 (only such cases as related to item (3) and item (4)) of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall not apply to the huge vessel.
2. A vessel (other than a huge vessel) navigating or staying, so as to involve risk of collision with a huge vessel which, having been navigating Bisan Seto East Traffic Route along the course of such route, intends to enter Uko East Traffic Route in the northern direction, or which, having been navigating Uko West Traffic Route southward along the course of such route, intends to enter Bisan Seto East Traffic Route, shall keep out of the way of the huge vessel. In such case, the provisions of Article 3 Paragraph 1 of this Law and Article 9 Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3, Article 13 Paragraph 1, Article 14 Paragraph 1, the first portion of Article 15 Paragraph 1 and Article 18 Paragraph 1 (only such cases as related to item (3) and item (4)) of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall not apply to the huge vessel.
3. The provisions of Article 3 Paragraph 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a huge vessel which navigates Bisan Seto East Traffic Route along the course of such route in the case where the provisions of either one of the preceding two paragraphs shall be applicable.
(Bisan Seto North Traffic Route, Bisan Seto South Traffic Route and Mizushima Traffic Route)
Article 18.
When a vessel intends to navigate Bisan Seto North Traffic Route along the course of such route, the vessel shall navigate westward.
2. When a vessel intends to navigate Bisan Seto South Traffic Route along the course of such route, the vessel shall navigate eastward.
3. When a vessel intends to navigate Mizushima Traffic Route along the course of such route, the vessel shall, as far as practicable, keep to that part of the route which lies on the starboard side of the central line of the route.
4. The provisions of Article 14 shall apply mutatis mutandis to Mizushima Traffic Route.
Article 19.
A vessel (other than a huge vessel and a vessel engaged in fishing or other operations) navigating Mizushima Traffic Route along the course of such route, so as to involve risk of collision with another vessel navigating Bisan Seto North Traffic Route westward along the course of such route, shall keep out of the way of the other vessel. In such case, the provisions of Article 9 Paragraph 2, Article 12 Paragraph 1, the first portion of Article 15 Paragraph 1 and Article 18 Paragraph 1 (only such cases as related to item (4)) of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall not apply to the other vessel.
2. A vessel engaged in fishing or other operations, navigating Mizushima Traffic Route along the course of such route, so as to involve risk of collision with a huge vessel navigating Bisan Seto North Traffic Route westward along the course of such route, shall keep out of the way of the huge vessel. In such case, the provisions of Article 9 Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3, the first portion of Article 15 Paragraph 1 and Article 18 Paragraph 1 (only such cases as related to item (3) and item (4)) of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall not apply to the huge vessel.
3. A vessel (other than a huge vessel) navigating Bisan Seto North Traffic Route along the course of such route, so as to involve risk of collision with a huge vessel navigating Mizushima Traffic Route along the course of such route, shall keep out of the way of the huge vessel. In such case, the provisions of Article 9 Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3, the first portion of Article 15 Paragraph 1 and Article 18 Paragraph 1 (only such cases as related to item (3) amd item (4))of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall not apply to the huge vessel.
4. A vessel (other than a huge vessel) navigating or staying, so as to involve risk of collision with a huge vessel which, having been navigating Bisan Seto North Traffic Route westward along the course of such route or navigating Bisan Seto South Traffic Route eastward along the course of such route, intends to enter from these routes into Mizushima Traffic Route or which, having been navigating Mizushima Traffic Route along the course of such route, intends to enter from the route into Bisan Seto North Traffic Route in the western direction or into Bisan Seto South Traffic Route in the eastern direction, shall keep out of the way of the huge vessel. In such case, the provisions of Article 3 Paragraph 1 of this Law and Article 9 Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3, Article 13 Paragraph 1, Article 14 Paragraph 1, the first portion of Article 15 Paragraph 1 and Article 18 Paragraph 1 (only such cases as related to item (3) and (4)) of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall not apply to the huge vessel.
5. The provisions of Article 3 Paragraph 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a huge vessel navigating Mizushima Traffic Route along the course of such route in the case where the provisions of either one of the preceding two paragraphs shall be applicable.
(Kurushima Kaikyo Traffic Route)
Article 20.
When a vessel navigates Kurushima Kaikyo Traffic Route along the course of such route, the vessel shall comply with any of the steering and sailing rules enumerated below. In such case, the provisions of Article 9 Paragraph 1 of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall not apply to a vessel navigating in compliance with any of these steering and sailing rules.
(1) To navigate Kurushima Kaikyo Naka Suido (hereafter referred to as "Naka Suido") with the tidal current and to navigate Kurushima Kaikyo Nishi Suido (hereafter referred to as "Nishi Suido") against the tidal current: Provided that, if there is a direction change of the tidal current while the vessel is navigating any of these channels, the vessel may continue to navigate the channel and that a vessel navigating Nishi Suido to enter the channel between Oshima and Hashihama or a vessel intending to enter from the same channel into Kurushima Kaikyo Traffic Route and to navigate Nishi Suido, may navigate Nishi Suido even when navigating with the tidal current;
(2) To navigate as close as possible to Oshima and Oge-shima, when navigating via Naka Suido;
(3) To navigate as close as possible to Shikoku side, when navigating via Nishi Suido. In such case, a vessel having been navigating Nishi Suido and intending to enter the channel between Oshima and Hashihama or a vessel intending to enter from the same channel into Kurushima Kaikyo Traffic Route and navigate Nishi Suido, shall keep to the Shikoku side of other vessels.
2. The direction of tidal current referred to in item (1) of the preceding paragraph shall be such direction as is indicated by the Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard by means of signal as provided for in the Ministry of LIT Ordinance.
Article 21.
A vessel equipped with a whistle shall give signal as provided for in the Ministry of LIT Ordinance in any of the following cases:
(1) When the vessel navigates Naka Suido or Nishi Suido along the course of Kurushima Kaikyo Traffic Route and when an advance notice has been given by the signal under Paragraph 2 of the preceding Article for a direction change of the tidal current and when it is anticipated that the change will take place during the vessel's passing through Naka Suido or Nishi Suido.
(2) When the vessel intends to navigate Nishi Suido along the course of Kurushima Kaikyo Traffic Route to go out to the channel between Oshima and Hashihama or when the vessel intends to enter from the same channel into the traffic route and navigate Nishi Suido along the course of the traffic route.
2. The provisions of Article 34 Paragraph 6 of the Law for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall not apply to the vessel navigating Kurushima Kaikyo Traffic Route and adjacent sea areas provided for in the Ministry of LIT Ordinance.
