The following traffic separation schemes (tss), precautionary areas, designated routes, navigational aids,…

Original warning text

THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEMES (TSS),
PRECAUTIONARY AREAS, DESIGNATED ROUTES, NAVIGATIONAL
AIDS, AND REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE 010001Z JUL:
1. SUNK CENTER LIGHT VESSEL WITH RACON 51-50.1N 001-46.0E,
   NAVIGATION PROHIBITED WITHIN 0.5 MILES OF LIGHT.
2. SUNK OUTER PRECAUTIONARY AREA, ABOUT 12 MILES
   LONG, SIX MILES WIDE, CENTERED ON SUNK CENTER LIGHT
   VESSEL (51-50.1N 001-46.0E). ALL VESSELS ENTERING
   THIS AREA MUST FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED COUNTER-CLOCKWISE
   TRAFFIC DIRECTION AROUND THE LIGHT VESSEL.
3. SUNK TSS NORTH IS SITUATED ADJACENT TO THE NORTH
   SIDE OF SUNK OUTER PRECAUTIONARY AREA, BETWEEN
   INNER GABBARD AND SHIPWASH. BEYOND THIS TSS, THE
   COASTAL ROUTE LEADS IN A NORTH DIRECTION ALONG
   THE EAST COAST OF ENGLAND.
4. SUNK TSS EAST IS SITUATED ADJACENT TO THE EAST SIDE
   OF SUNK OUTER PRECAUTIONARY AREA, BETWEEN INNER
   GABBARD AND THE GALLOPER. BEYOND THIS TSS, THE ROUTE
   LEADS IN AN EAST-NORTHEAST DIRECTION TO THE
   VICINITY OF NORTH HINDER JUNCTION PRECAUTIONARY AREA.
5. SUNK TSS SOUTH IS SITUATED ADJACENT TO THE SOUTH
   SIDE OF SUNK OUTER PRECAUTIONARY AREA, BETWEEN
   KENTISH KNOCK AND NORTH FALLS. BEYOND THIS TSS,
   ROUTES LEAD SOUTH-SOUTHEAST THROUGH FALLS GAP OR
   SOUTH-SOUTHWEST TO DOVER STRAIT TSS.
6. SUNK INNER PRECAUTIONARY AREA IS SITUATED ADJACENT
   TO THE WEST SIDE OF SUNK OUTER PRECAUTIONARY AREA.
   THIS AREA IS ABOUT SIX MILES LONG, SIX MILES WIDE,
   AND IS IRREGULAR IN SHAPE.
7. SUNK INNER LIGHTED BUOY  WITH RACON, IS MOORED IN
   POSITION 51-51.0N, 001-34.9E,
   NEAR THE CENTER OF SUNK INNER PRECAUTIONARY AREA.
8. GALLOPER RECOMMENDED ROUTE LEADS IN AN EAST-SOUTHEAST
   DIRECTION FROM THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF SUNK OUTER
   PRECAUTIONARY AREA. THIS ROUTE IS DESIGNATED FOR
   CROSS-CHANNEL FERRIES PROCEEDING TO OR FROM OOSTENDE
   OR ZEEBRUGGE. SUCH FERRIES CROSS NOORD HINDER SOUTH
   TSS IN THE VICINITY OF TWIN LIGHTED BUOY (51-32.0N, 002-22.6E).
9. SHIPWASH BANK ROUTE LEADS SOUTH INTO SUNK INNER
   PRECAUTIONARY AREA (AVOIDING SUNK OUTER PRECAUTIONARY AREA).
   IT PASSES WEST OF SUNK TSS NORTH AND EAST OF SHIPWASH.
   ACCESS IS VIA A RESTRICTED AREA; VESSELS SHOULD NOTE THAT
   IT IS PROHIBITED TO ENTER OR EXIT THE HARWICH DEEP-WATER
   CHANNEL BETWEEN SOUTH SHIPWASH LIGHTED BUOY
   (51-52.7N, 001-34.2E) AND WALKER LIGHTED BUOY, MOORED
   ONE MILE NORTH. THIS ROUTE MAY BE USED BY VESSELS OF LESS
   THAN 20M IN LENGTH, SAILING VESSELS, AND VESSELS ENGAGED
   IN FISHING IRRESPECTIVE OF PORT OF DESTINATION OR ORIGIN.
   IT MAY ALSO BE USED BY VESSELS OPERATED UNDER A PILOTAGE
   EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE AND VESSELS EXEMPT FROM PILOTAGE BY
   THE REGULATIONS OF THE PORT OF DESTINATION. ALL SUCH VESSELS
   MAY PROCEED TO OR FROM ANY PORT ACCESSIBLE BY SUNK INNER
   PRECAUTIONARY AREA, INCLUDING THAMES AND MEDWAY PORTS.
10. LONG SAND HEAD TWO-WAY ROUTE, WHICH IS ABOUT 11 MILES LONG,
    LEADS NORTH INTO SUNK INNER PRECAUTIONARY AREA, CLOSE EAST
    OF LONG SAND HEAD (51-46N, 001-37E). IT PASSES BETWEEN
    KENTISH KNOCK AND THE WEST SIDE OF SUNK TSS SOUTH. THIS
    ROUTE MAY BE USED BY VESSELS OF LESS THAN 20M IN LENGTH,
    SAILING VESSELS, AND VESSELS ENGAGED IN FISHING IRRESPECTIVE
    OF PORT OF DESTINATION OR ORIGIN. IT MAY ALSO BE USED BY
    VESSELS OPERATED UNDER A PILOTAGE EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE
    AND VESSELS EXEMPT FROM PILOTAGE BY THE REGULATIONS OF THE
    PORT OF DESTINATION, WHICH ARE PROCEEDING ONLY
    TO OR FROM THAMES OR MEDWAY PORTS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE
    NINE (72 COLREGS), VESSELS OF LESS THAN 20M IN LENGTH,
    SAILING VESSELS, AND VESSELS ENGAGED IN FISHING USING THIS
    ROUTE SHALL NOT IMPEDE THE PASSAGE OF A VESSEL WHICH CAN
    SAFELY NAVIGATE ONLY WITHIN THE NARROW CHANNEL OR FAIRWAY.
11. VESSELS WHICH ARE NOT PROCEEDING TO OR DEPARTING FROM
    PORTS WITHIN THE THAMES ESTUARY OR HARWICH HAVEN SHALL
    AVOID SUNK INNER PRECAUTIONARY AREA.
12. VESSELS NAVIGATING WITHIN SUNK INNER PRECAUTIONARY AREA
    SHALL AVOID IMPEDING THE PASSAGE OF A VESSEL CONSTRAINED
    BY DRAFT OR FOLLOWING A DEEP-WATER ROUTE.
13. SUNK VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE (VTS) SYSTEM OPERATES IN THE
    VICINITY OF SUNK CENTER LIGHT VESSEL AND COVERS SUNK OUTER
    PRECAUTIONARY AREA, SUNK INNER PRECAUTIONARY AREA, THE
    ASSOCIATED TSS, AND THE OTHER ROUTES LEADING INTO THESE AREAS.
    ALL VESSELS OF 300 GRT AND OVER SHALL PARTICIPATE IN THIS SYSTEM.
    AN EXTRACT OF SUNK VTS RULES IS LISTED BELOW:
    A. VESSELS MUST MAINTAIN A LISTENING WATCH WHEN WITHIN THE SUNK
       VTS AREA. THEY MUST ALSO REPORT TO SUNK VTS ON VHF CHANNEL
       14 WHEN ENTERING OR DEPARTING THE AREA AND WHEN
       PASSING THE DESIGNATED REPORTING POINTS.
    B. WHEN INITIALLY REPORTING TO SUNK VTS, VESSELS MUST STATE
       THEIR NAME, CALL SIGN, POSITION, DRAFT, DESTINATION, INTENDED
       ROUTE, AND ETA AT THE PILOT BOARDING STATION IF APPLICABLE.
    C. VESSELS IN THE AREA MUST REPORT TO SUNK VTS ANY INCIDENT
       THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF NAVIGATION.
    D. VESSELS MUST MAINTAIN THEIR LISTENING WATCH UNTIL FINALLY
       CLEAR OF THE SUNK VTS AREA OR WHEN TRANSFERRING TO A
       NEIGHBORING VTS SYSTEM.
    E. VESSELS MUST REPORT TO SUNK VTS WHEN ANCHORING WITHIN THE
       AREA AND MAINTAIN A LISTENING WATCH.
    F. FISHING VESSELS ENGAGED IN FISHING MUST REPORT THEIR
       INTENTIONS TO SUNK VTS ON ENTERING OR LEAVING SUNK INNER
       PRECAUTIONARY AREA.
14. SUNK VTS SYSTEM AND ALL OF THE ABOVE TSS, PRECAUTIONARY AREAS,
    AND ROUTES LEADING INTO THEM ARE IMO-ADOPTED. WITH THE
    PRECAUTIONARY AREAS, THE INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING
    COLLISIONS AT SEA (72 COLREGS) APPLY.
15. SUNK PILOTS BOARDING STATION IS LOCATED IN POSITION
    51-51.4N 001-40.5E, ABOUT 3.5 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF SUNK
    CENTER LIGHT VESSEL. IT PROVIDES PILOTS FOR THE THAMES ESTUARY,
    HARWICH, FELIXSTOWE, IPSWICH, AND MISTLEY (HAVEN PORTS).
    THIS BOARDING STATION, WHICH MAY BE CONTACTED ON VHF, IS
    LOCATED WITHIN THE SUNK VTS AREA AND IN THE NORTHEAST PART
    OF SUNK INNER PRECAUTIONARY AREA. PILOTS AT THIS STATION
    ARE NORMALLY EMBARKED OR DISEMBARKED BY THE FOLLOWING:
    A. VESSELS WITH DRAFTS OF SIX METERS OR MORE ENTERING FROM
       OR LEAVING FOR PORTS TO THE NORTH AND NORTH EAST OF THE THAMES.
    B. VESSELS ENTERING FROM OR LEAVING FOR PORTS TO THE SOUTH AND
       EAST OF THE THAMES, WHICH ARE UNABLE TO USE PRINCES CHANNEL
       OR FISHERMANS GAT BECAUSE OF THEIR OPERATING DRAFT.
    C. VESSELS WITH DRAFTS OF LESS THAN SIX METERS, WHICH AGREE
       TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL PILOTAGE CHARGE FOR SUCH SERVICE.
    D. VESSELS ENTERING FROM OR LEAVING FOR PORTS IN ESSEX OR SUFFOLK.
16. THE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS APPLY TO VESSELS INTENDING TO EMBARK
    A PILOT AT SUNK PILOTS BOARDING STATION:
    A. INBOUND VESSELS MUST APPROACH FROM SUNK OUTER PRECAUTIONARY AREA.
    B. VESSELS MUST ADHERE TO THE PILOT BOARDING TURN ORDER ISSUED BY SUNK VTS.
    C. VESSELS MUST AVOID WAITING IN THE VICINITY OF THE BOARDING STATION.
    D. VESSELS MUST EMBARK THE PILOT EAST OF STORM LIGHTED BUOY
       (51-52N, 1-38E) UNLESS INFORMED BY SUNK VTS.
    E. VESSELS MUST MAINTAIN A LISTING WATCH ON THE VTS WORKING CHANNEL
       DURING BOARDING OPERATIONS. VHF CHANNEL 06 MAY BE USED FOR
       DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH THE PILOT LAUNCH DURING THE EMBARKATION
       PROCEDURE.
17. VESSELS SHOULD NAVIGATE WITH EXTREME CAUTION IN THE VICINITY OF
    SUNK CENTER LIGHT VESSEL, SUNK INNER PRECAUTIONARY AREA, AND THE
    APPROACHES TO HARWICH HAVEN DUE TO THE HIGH DENSITY OF DEEP-DRAFT
    VESSELS AND CROSSING TRAFFIC THAT MAY BE ENCOUNTERED.
18. WHEN NAVIGATING THE OUTER PASSAGE, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE THROUGH
    ROUTE, ACROSS THE OUTER PART OF THE THAMES ESTUARY, SOUTHBOUND VESSELS
    USUALLY KEEP TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE PASSAGE. FROM THE NORTH PART
    OF THE NORTH SEA, VESSELS SHOULD PASS EAST OF ALDEBURGH NAPES
    (52-09N, 1-42E) AND PROCEED INTO SUNK TSS NORTH. THEY SHOULD CONTINUE
    IN A SOUTH DIRECTION THROUGH SUNK OUTER PRECAUTIONARY AREA,
    PASSING EAST OF SUNK PILOTS BOARDING STATION AND WEST OF SUNK CENTER
    LIGHT VESSEL, INTO SUNK TSS SOUTH. VESSELS SHOULD THEN STEER IN A
    SOUTH-SOUTHWEST DIRECTION TO KEEP WEST OF SOUTH FALLS SHOAL, PASSING EAST
    OF DRILL STONE LIGHTED BUOY (51-26.0N, 0001-43.0E) AND EAST OF
    NORTHEAST GOODWIN LIGHTED BUOY (51-20.0N, 001-34.0E). THEY SHOULD
    THEN ADJUST COURSE TO ENTER THE SOUTHBOUND LANE OF DOVER STRAIT TSS,
    PASSING WEST OF SOUTH FALLS LIGHTED BUOY AND EAST OF EAST GOODWIN
    LIGHT FLOAT (51-13.0N, 001-36.0E). THIS ROUTE ALSO CAN BE USED BY
    VESSELS PROCEEDING SSE THROUGH FALLS GAP IN ORDER TO CROSS DOVER STRAIT
    TSS IN THE VICINITY OF FOXTROT 3 LIGHTED BUOY (51-24.0N, 002-00.0E).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING SUNK VTS, REPORTING POINTS, OTHER
NEIGHBORING VTS SYSTEMS, AND ADDITIONAL PILOTAGE BOARDING STATIONS FOR
THE THAMES ESTUARY AND HARWICH HAVEN, SEE PUB. 192 SAILING DIRECTIONS (ENROUTE)
NORTH SEA (SECTOR 4).