Which charts show shipping lanes?

[jalmberg]

People talk and write about 'shipping lanes': avoiding them and crossing them at right angles and such. But other than the approaches to large harbors like NY Harbor, none of the charts I own actually show any shipping lanes.

Are there actual 'shipping lanes' other than these approaches? If so, how do you know where they are? Which charts show them?

Thanks!

-- John

[Vasco]

Shipping lanes are usually in congested waters.

[Stumble]

You are conflating two separate things. Inshore there are Traffic Seperation Schemes that are established as a function of maritime law, and commercial traffic are functionally required to use them. But they are only found at major ports. As a recreational vessel it really is best to just stay out of them.

Shipping lanes however are the informal routes that ships take in order to maximize profit. Leaving Miami for London you could go south of the Bahamas, but why would you, you turn North, follow the stream, then at some point turn east and begin the big circle route. Exactly where depends on where the current is, how fast its moving, weather, your ships speed, efficiency, and due date. Practically preaching however most ships turn at roughly the same spot and have for the last 500 years.

The TSS are charted, and very well marked on navigation charts. The easiest way to see the shipping routes is to Google a heat map of AIS traffic for the last year. But they change over time, spring to fall, when the economy is doing well vs badly.

[Training Wheels]

Check out the "density maps" on MarineTraffic.com. Very enlightening!

[MarkJ]

The worlds major shipping lanes are marked on Pilot Charts, free with OpenCpn plugin, or free to download off the Noaa site on the internet.

But for in-depth shipping routes you really need pro charts for ships that are quite expensive. I had a pirate copy of one which was great, but no detail on anything but commercial ports.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by Training Wheels

Check out the "density maps" on MarineTraffic.com. Very enlightening!

+1

And if you need to ask the question, it might be worthwhile downloading a copy of the IRPCS as well, and check out rule 10.

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by Stumble

But they are only found at major ports.

Agree with most of what you wrote, however TSS can be found at shipping chokepoints anywhere. Examples are around capes, such as Ushant or Finisterre (obvious in Conachair's image above), or through straits, such as Malacca.

"Shipping routes" are much less defined than they once were - as trade is truly global, and shipments can change hands and consequently, destination. The standard routes are well-described in BA's Ocean Passages of the World: https://www.admiralty.co.uk/publicat...-for-the-world

Routes do change seasonally, due to weather patterns, ice avoidance, currents, and now for economic reasons.

[El Pinguino]

New York seems to be the OP's area of interest.

These pics will give you an idea....

Interesting that someone wants to set up windfarms in about the only bit of water not covered by the assorted TSS.

[El Pinguino]

Once clear of the coast ships just go where they choose.... and you simply have areas of greater or lesser traffic density.

However many do choose to go in much the same direction.... from the carib towards the English Channel or the Straits of Gibraltar frinstance.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by conachair

+1

And if you need to ask the question, it might be worthwhile downloading a copy of the IRPCS as well, and check out rule 10.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intern...lisions_at_Sea
10. Traffic Separation Schemes
Ships must cross traffic lanes steering a course "as nearly as practicable" at right angles to the direction of traffic. This reduces confusion and enables that vessel to cross the lane as quickly as possible.
Vessel entering a traffic separation scheme should do it at an angle as small as practicable.
A traffic separation scheme does not relieve any vessel from complying with other rules.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Stumble

You are conflating two separate things. Inshore there are Traffic Seperation Schemes that are established as a function of maritime law, and commercial traffic are functionally required to use them. But they are only found at major ports. As a recreational vessel it really is best to just stay out of them.

Or in constricted waters. The waters between England and continental Europe being a classic example - there are several TSSs in that area.

[jalmberg]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Once clear of the coast ships just go where they choose.... and you simply have areas of greater or lesser traffic density.

However many do choose to go in much the same direction.... from the carib towards the English Channel or the Straits of Gibraltar frinstance.

So it sounds like there are no shipping lanes marked on charts, other the separation zones near big ports. That answers my question. Thanks!

[StuM]

Originally Posted by jalmberg

So it sounds like there are no shipping lanes marked on charts, other the separation zones near big ports. That answers my question. Thanks!

Get in touch with Robert Redford and find out where he got his chart in All Is Lost. It had a shipping lane marked

[karle]

Originally Posted by jalmberg

People talk and write about 'shipping lanes': avoiding them and crossing them at right angles and such. But other than the approaches to large harbors like NY Harbor, none of the charts I own actually show any shipping lanes.

Are there actual 'shipping lanes' other than these approaches? If so, how do you know where they are? Which charts show them?

Thanks!

-- John

Electronic charts use the following terminology. opencpn always shows them as a translucent pink(ish) color.

TSELNE (Traffic Separation Line)
TSEZNE (Traffic Separation zone)
TSSBND (Traffic Separation Scheme Boundary)
TSSCRS (Traffic Separation Scheme Crossing)
TSSLPT (Traffice Separation Scheme Lane Part)
TSSRON (Traffice Separation Scheme Roundabout)

[jalmberg]

Originally Posted by Training Wheels

Check out the "density maps" on MarineTraffic.com. Very enlightening!

That is very interesting. One of the reasons I'm asking the question is to figure out where you have to be, off shore of the East Coast of the US, to be 'out' of the main streams of traffic. These real time tracking maps are probably the best answer.

Thanks,

-- John