It is important to note that a new routeing system in the Dutch area of the North Sea will take effect from 1st August 2013.

Published 11 years ago, updated 6 years ago

On the 1st of August 2013 00:00 UTC (02:00 local time) the routeing system in the Dutch part of the North Sea will change extensively.

A number of Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) will be revised and in the approaches, to IJmuiden a new TSS will be introduced. New anchoring areas will be established and others changed. Former ammunition dumping grounds will become “Areas to be Avoided”.

Purpose of the Revisions

The North Sea is one of the world’s most intensively used sea areas. A revision of the routeing system is needed to ensure the future safety of shipping, to improve access to the Dutch main ports and to efficiently allocate the marine space.

Transition Period

The new routeing system comes into force on the 1st of August 2013 00:00 UTC (02:00 local time). Until this moment the old routeing system will apply. New nautical charts and ENC’s will be released mid-June 2013 and all will be available through the usual distributors. All shipmasters are reminded that new nautical charts must be on board before the changes take effect.

Caution!

On the 30th and 31st of July and on the 1st of August, numerous buoys will be moved. Before and during the operation, marine traffic will be closely informed through Notices to Mariners and live navigation messages.

More Information

Please consult the Rijkswaterstaat for further information on the changes: www.rws.nl/newshippingroutes.

Notices to Mariners (NtMs) and addresses of chart agents are published on the website of the Netherlands Hydrographic Office: www.hydro.nl and of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO): www.ukho.gov.uk.

Information produced from a Rijkswaterstaat the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment publication produced in partnership with the Netherlands Hydrographic Office, the Netherlands Coastguard, the port of Amsterdam and the port of Rotterdam.

Rijkswaterstaat is the executive body of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment.

From an article on the U.K. RYA website