Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2009
Following the Amoco Cadiz disaster in 1978 proposals were put forward, and ultimately accepted by IMCO, for a revision of the traffic separation schemes off Ushant and the Casquets, the broad effect of which was to keep large tankers (and those carrying hazardous cargoes) further off the French coast. The modifications came in for some criticism and recent Anglo-French proposals have now secured IMCO agreement. Prior to that a purely United Kingdom working group sought to formulate a comprehensive and continuous routing scheme for the whole English Channel.
Captain Cockcroft who, as an observer for IAIN at IMCO and as RIN representative on the UK working group on Channel Routing, has played a leading part in these discussions, here describes some of the problems and considers issues raised by concepts such as ‘areas to be avoided’, and finally, within the context of traffic separation in straits, proposes alterations to the Collision Regulations which govern the crossing of traffic lanes and the use of inshore traffic zones.