Separate operation routes for vessels

To minimise accidents and enhance marine environment, the ministry of shipping has separated the operation routes of merchant vessels and fishing vessels in south-west Indian waters.

The Arabian Sea around the south-west coast of India is a busy sea route, with a substantial number of merchant ships passing through the area, along with a large number of fishing vessels operating in the area. It sometimes causes accidents between them, resulting in damage of property and environmental pollution, and in several instances has resulted in loss of lives also.

The decision is taken for ensuring ease of navigation in Indian waters. It will also ensure improvement in avoidance of collision, ease in flow of traffic along with safety of life at sea and enhance protection of marine environment. The Directorate General of Shipping has proactively taken this step to efficiently regulate shipping traffic in this region.

How will the decision impact the travel route?

• The lanes under consideration are located at a distance of about 90 nautical miles west of Mangalore, with the lanes leading in a south-westerly direction to the southernmost tip and ending about 40 nautical miles off south of Kanyakumari. The average distance from the coast is about 50 nautical miles. 

• Past collisions off the Indian coast, traffic patterns of merchant vessels for past years, and optimum sea routes in parley with the current traffic flow including simplification of traffic in converging areas off the Kerala coast has provided the premise to formulate such a routeing system.

• Safety of navigation, maritime security and the separation of opposing streams of traffic to reduce incidents of collision in Indian waters have also been a major reason.

• Fishermen will have more sea room now to operate safely much to the benefit of the fishing industry.

• Merchant ship traffic will become more concentrated in their designated route not hindering other vessels in the vicinity.

The coordinates of the routeing system in south-west of Indian waters is notified by DG Shipping through M.S. Notice-11 of 2020. The new routes come into force with effect from August 1, 2020.

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