India announced that the existing Deep Water route will be replaced by a Traffic Separation Scheme and existing safety fairway on approaches to the Gulf of Kutch is also replaced with revised safety fairway, from 1st September 2022.
According to the Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, all shipping traffic in the region are to use the traffic separation scheme, so that safety of life, property and the environment can be improved in the region.
This Merchant Shipping Notice comes into force with effect from 1st September 2022 and is issued with the approval of the competent authority.
The Gulf of Kutch area has number of ports and terminals due to which large number of vessels operate in the area making it one of the busiest shipping routes in Indian waters.
The large number of merchant vessels and other smaller vessels operating in the area has resulted in some of the accidents in recent past. The accidents have resulted in loss of properly and environmental pollution.
Considering these accidents in the Gulf of Kutch waters, it has become imperative to establish a Traffic Separation System in the area that will not only ensure improvement in safety of navigation, avoidance of collision, ease in flow of traffic and the avoidance of areas of heavy traffic, but also improve safety of life, property and the environment.
EXPLORE MORE AT INDIA’S NOTICE ON THE TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME
