Sailing Direction For The Changhua Wind Farm Channel
A. Foreword
The main purpose of the Sailing Direction is to establish the sailing order of vessels in the Changhua Wind Farm Channel in order to maintain and improve navigation safety and efficiency. Vessels using the Changhua offshore navigation areas are strongly advised to place this Sailing Direction on the bridge as reference for navigation and routes planning.
B. General Provisions
I. Changhua offshore navigation areas
Changhua offshore navigation areas refer to the water areas surrounded the Changhua offshore wind farms (from the Port of Taichung to the Port of Mailiao) of which the northern border is the north reporting line and its southern border is the south reporting line including the Changhua Wind Farm Channel, precautionary areas, and the inshore traffic zone of Changhua.
II. Changhua Wind Farm Channel
The traffic separation scheme (TSS) is adopted for the Changhua Wind Farm Channel. The coordinates for each point and reporting line of the Channel are listed below. The boundaries of the shipping lanes and reporting lines can be found from the figure in the annex.
(I) The Traffic Separation Scheme(TSS)
The Channel is separated into the northbound traffic lane, southbound traffic lane, separation zone, east traffic buffer zone, and west traffic buffer zone. The boundary coordinates of such areas are as follows:
1. Northbound traffic lane：A traffic lane, two miles wide, for northbound traffic is established between the separation zone and a line connecting the following geographical positions:
(1)24°09’.96 N, 120°12’.42 E
(7)24°08’.52 N, 120°09’.00 E
(9)23°57’.42 N, 120°00’.36 E
(11)23°52’.98 N, 119°59’.22 E
2. Southbound traffic lane：A traffic lane, two miles wide, for southbound traffic is established between the separation zone and a line connecting the following geographical positions: (14)23°56’.28 N, 119°52’.74 E
(4)24°14’.34 N, 120°06’.72 E
3. Separation zone：A separation zone, one mile wide, is bounded by a line connecting the following geographical positions: (2)24°12’.42 N, 120°09’.24 E
(12)23°54’.78 N, 119°55’.62 E
(13)23°55’.32 N, 119°54’.66 E
(3)24°13’.08 N, 120°08’.40 E
4. East traffic buffer zone(Reserved Zones)：The East traffic buffer zone(Reserved Zones) is established between the northbound traffic lane and a line connecting the following geographical positions: (6)24°07’.26 N, 120°11’.28 E
(8)23°56’.40 N, 120°02’.88 E
(10)23°52’.32 N, 120°01’.86 E
5. West traffic buffer zone(Reserved Zones)：The West traffic buffer zone(Reserved Zones) is established between the southbound traffic lane and a line connecting the following geographical positions: (15)23°57’.00 N, 119°51’.30 E
(5)24°15’.36 N, 120°05’.46 E
(II) Reporting lines
Six reporting lines have been established so that vessel traffic in the Channel can be effectively monitored and organized:：
1. T Line：119°57.0'E (A line drawn from 24°25.0'N to south reaching the northern boundary of the western part of Changhua Wind Farm)
2. N Line：24°25.0'N (A line drawn from 119°57.0'E to 120°23.0'E)
3. C Line：120°23.0'E (A line drawn from 24°25.0'N to south reaching the coast)
4. P Line：119°45.0'E (A line drawn from 23°42.0'N to north reaching the southern boundary of the western part of Changhua Wind Farm)
5. S Line：23°42.0'N (A line drawn from 119°45.0'E to 120°05'.67E)
6. M Line：120°05'.67E (A line drawn from 23°42.0'N to north reaching the southern boundary of the eastern part of Changhua Wind Farm)
III. Precautionary areas
Given that the northern and southern ends of Changhua Wind Farm Channel are the areas with high shipping traffic density in which vessels entering or exiting the Channel and inbound and outbound traffic gather, ship movements are difficult to predict. Precautionary areas are accordingly established for the north and south ends of the Changhua Wind Farm to recommend vessels to pay close attention to the surrounding situations, including proximity risks during transit.
IV. Inshore traffic zone of Changhua
Inshore traffic zone of Changhua refers to the navigation areas between the Changhua coast and the eastern part of Changhua Wind Farm 4 Channel. They are separated from Changhua Wind Farm Channel and are less affected by the north-south traffic using the TSS, therefore is mainly provided for vessels of less than 300 gross tonnage and fishing boats registered under the flag of the Republic of China to navigation under the guidance of this Sailing Directions to ensure their safety in navigation.
V. Changhua Offshore Wind Farm Vessel Traffic Services (referred to as "Changhua VTS" in the Sailing Directions)
The Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) are established in accordance with the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The VTS is established to monitor vessels sailing in Changhua Wind Farm Channel to provide navigational warnings and other related assistances. Changhua Offshore Wind Farm Vessel Traffic Services shall be referred to as Changhua VTS.
C. Changhua VTS Reporting Mechanisms
I. Vessels required to comply with the reporting mechanisms:
(I) All vessels passing and using the Changhua Wind Farm Channel for navigation are required to report to Changhua VTS, including pre-arrival notifications and reporting on arrival.
(II) Vessels that must pass through the Changhua Wind Farm Channel due to an emergency or must use the traffic buffer zones or the separation zone of the Changhua Wind Farm Channel to avoid imminent danger, pre-arrival notification is not required.
II. Communication
(I) All vessels passing and sailing in the Changhua Wind Farm Channel must be equipped with AIS, VHF, and radio equipment defined in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) for Sea Area A1 and A2. The AIS must be kept operational and correctly set with updated information. For VHF, Channel 16 and designated channels must be watched throughout the passage. For vessels using DSB and SSB, the designated frequencies must be watched. Report to Changhua VTS through the designated channels/frequencies for pre-Arrival notification and reporting upon arrival.
(II) Changhua VTS designated VHF channels:
Channel Function
16 Distress, urgency and safety calling
68 Reporting upon arrival
74 Promulgation of Maritime Safety Information
