JABATAN LAUT SEMENANJUNG MALAYSIA
NOTICE TO MARINERS
Notice No. : 39(T) of 1998  
Authority  : Director General of Marine, Peninsular Malaysia 
Position  : Peninsular Malaysia, Malacca Straits.
Charts Affected  :
Publication Affected  :

 
 

1. The Maritime Safety Committee, at sixty-ninth session ( 11-20 May 1998 ), adopted in
     accordance with the provisions of resolutions A.858(20), the following routering measures
     other than traffic separation schemesm attached hereto.

2. The aforrementioned routering measures will be implemented at 0000 hours UTC on 1
    December 1998.
 

RULES FOR VESSELS NAVIGATING THROUGH THE STRAITS OF MALACCA AND SINGAPORE
 
Definition

For the purpose of these Rules the following definitions shall apply:

1.    A vessel having a draught of 15 metres or moree shall be deemed to be a deep draught vessel.

 
2.  A tanker of 150,000 dwt and above shall be deemed to be very large crude carrier ( VLCC ).

Note: The above definitions do not prejudice the definitions of " vessel constrained by her
          draught " describe in Rule 3(h) of the International Regulations for Preventing
          Collisions at Sea, 1972.

General Provisions

1.     Deep draught vessels and VLCCs shall allow for an under keel clearance of at least 3.5
        metres at all times during the entire passage through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore
        and shall also take all necessary safety precautions, when navigating through the traffic
        separation schemes.

2.    Master of deep draught vessels and VLCCs shall have particular regard to navigational
       constraints when planning their passage through the Straits.

3.    All deep draught vessels  and VLCCs navigating within the traffic separation schemes are
       recommended to use the pilotage service of the respecive countries when they become
       available.

4.    Vessels shall take into account the precautionary areas where crossing traffic may be
        encountered and be in a maximum state of manoeuvring reainess in these areas.
 

RULES

Rule 1     :    Eastbound deep draught vessels shall use the designated deep water routes.

Rule 2     :   Eastbound deep draught vessels navigating in the deep-water routes in Phillip
                    Channel and Singapore Strait shall as far as practicable, avoid overtaking.

Rule 3    :    All vessels navigating within the traffic separation scheme shall proceed in the
                    appropriate  traffic lane in the general direction of traffic flow for that lane and
                    maintain as steady a course as possible, consistent with afe navigation.

Rule 4    :    All vessels having defects, affecting operational safety shall take appropriate
                    measures to overcome these defects before entering the Straits of Malacca and
                    Singapore.

Rule 5    :    In the event of an emergency or breakdown of a vessel in the traffic lan, it shall, as
                    far as practicable and safe, leave the lane by pulling out to the starboard side.
 

Rule 6    :   a.    Vessels proceeding in the westbound lane of the traffic separation scheme "In
                           the Singapore Strait" when the approaching Raffles Lighthouse shall proceed
                           with caution, taking note of the local warning system, and,  compliance with
                           Rule 18(d) of te International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
                           1972, avoid impending the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draught
                           which is exhibiting the signals required by Rule 28 and which is obliged to
                           cross the westbound lane of the in order to approach the single point mooring
                           facility ( in approximate position 01° 11'42N, 103° 47'.05E, from Phillip
                           Channel ).

                    b.    Vessels proceeding in the traffic separation schemes when approaching any of
                            the precautionary areas shall proceed with caution, taking note of the local
                            warning system, and, in compliance with Rule 18(d) of the INternational
                            Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, avoid impending the safe
                            passage of a vessel constrained by her draught which is exhibiting the signals
                            required by Rule 28 and which is obliged to cross that precautionary area.
 
                    c.     Information relating to the movement of ships constrained by their draught
                            as referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) above will be given by radio
                            broadcasts. The particulars of such broadcasts are promulgated by Notices to
                            Mariners. All vessels navigating in the area of the traffic separation scheme
                            should minitor these radio broadcasts and take account of the information
                            received.

Rule7    :    VLCCs and deep draught vessels navigating in the Straits of Malacca and
                   Singapore shall, as far as it is safe and practicable, proceed at a speed of not more
                   than 12 knots over the ground in the following areas :

            a.    At One Fanthom Bank traffic separation scheme;
            b.    deep-water routes in the Phillip Channel and in Singapore Strait; and
            c.    Westbound lanes between position 01° 12'.51N 103° 52'.25E and 01° 11'.59N
                   103° 50'.3E and between position 01° 11'.13N 103° 49'.18E and 01° 08'.65N
                   103° 44'.40E

Rule 8    :    All vessels navigating in the traffic separation scheme shall maintain at all times a
                    safe speed consistent with the safe navigation, shall proceed with caution,. and shall
                    be in a maximum tate of menoeuvering readiness.

Rule 9    :    a. The following classes of vessels navigating in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore
                        are to participate in the manatory ship reporting system adopted by the
                        Organisation, using VHF radio communication:

                        i .   vessels of 300 GT and above;.
                       ii.    vessels of 50 metres or more in lenght;
                      iii.    vessels engage in towing or pushing with a combined GT of 300 and above, or
                              with a combined lenght of 50 metres or more;
                      iv.    vessels of any tonnage carrying hazardous and or potentially pollutingcargo in
                              accordance with the definitions in paragraph 1.4 of Resolution MSC.43(64);
                       v.    all passanger vessels that are fitted with VHF, regardless of lenght or GT ; and
                       vi.   any category of vessels less than 50 metres in lenght or less than 300 GT which
                              is fitted with VHF and in an emergency, uses the approriate traffic lane or
                              separation zone, in order to avoid immediate danger.

            b.    In addition, VLCCs and deep draught vessels navigating in the Straits of Malacca and
                   Singapore are advised to broadcast, eight hours before entering the traffic separation
                   schemes, navigational warnings giving names, deadweight tonnage, draught, speed and
                   times of passing One Fanthom Bank Lighthouse, Raffles Lighthouse and Horsburgh
                   Lighthouse. Difficult and unwidely tows are also advised to braodcast similar warnings.

Rules 10    :    All vessels navigating in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore are requested to
                        report by radio to the nearest shore authority any damage to or malfunction of the
                        aids to navigation in the Straits, or any aids out of positions in the Straits.

Rules 11    :    Flag States, owners and operators should ensure that their vessels are adequately
                        equipped in accordance with the appropriate international conventions/
                        recommendations.

WARNING

         Mariners are warned that local traffic could be unaware og the internationally afreed
         regulations and practices of seafearers and maybe encountered in ior near traffic se[aration
         schemes, and should take any precautions which may be required by the ordinary practie of
         seamen or by the special circumstances of the case . 
 
 

 
 
(CAPT.M.PRATHABAN)

for Director General of Marine,

Peninsular Malaysia.

 

 

MARINE DEPARTMENT,

PENINSULAR MALAYSIA,

P.O. BOX 12,

42007 PORT KLANG.

 

 

Date: 31st July 1998.

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