11am Saturday, 26th October 2013
Langdon Battery, Dover to see how the coastguard
monitor the TSS [Traffic Separation Scheme]
Dover Coastguard
Langdon Battery
Swingate
DOVER
Kent
CT15 5NA
The Dover Strait is one of the busiest international seaways in the world, regularly used by over 400
commercial vessels daily. It became the first International Maritime Organization [IMO] approved
Traffic Separation Scheme in the world in the early 1970s, and was the first to come under full radar
surveillance. The Channel Navigation Information Service [CNIS], introduced in 1972, provides a 24
hour radio and radar safety service for all shipping in the Dover Strait, and is jointly operated by the
UK and French Administrations from the Dover Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre [MRCC] and
CROSS Gris Nez in France. The Dover Strait is a mandatory reporting area, meaning that vessels
over 300 gross tonnes are required to report to either Dover MRCC [South West Lane] or CROSS
Gris Nez [North East Lane] before proceeding through the service area.
The functions of CNIS are to keep the
Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme
under observation, to monitor the flow of
traffic and to detect and report vessels
which
contravene
the
International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at
Sea 1972, as amended [COLREGS].
The UK responsibility for operating CNIS is
vested in HM Coastguard at Dover MRCC.
The modern technology installed will
support the MCA and HM Coastguard in
promoting Safety of Life at Sea, enhance
Counter Pollution measures and provide improved
support for enforcement activity
Numbers are limited, so please let me know asap if you wish to be included to this interesting
and informative visit.
