Purpose and traffic-safety intent
- The circular prescribes rules and regulations that vessels navigating the Southern Approach must follow to improve safety of navigation.
- The circular is designed to improve efficiency of traffic in the Southern Approach.
- The circular is designed to enhance protection of the marine environment.
Coverage, applicability, and geographic scope
- The rules apply to vessels entering and leaving Cebu Harbor through the Southern Approach.
- The rules apply to all vessels except motorized/fishing bancas and sailing vessels/yachts.
- The “Southern Approach” covers the entering channel leading to Cebu Harbor from South situated between Lipata Bank and Lauis Ledge.
Defined routeing terms
- A Routeing System means any system of one or more routes or routeing measures aimed at reducing the risk of casualties, including traffic separation schemes and precautionary areas.
- A Separation Line is a line separating traffic lanes for ships proceeding in opposite or nearly opposite directions.
- A Traffic Lane is an area within defined limits where one-way traffic is established.
- A Recommended Track is a route specially examined to ensure, as far as possible, that it is free of dangers and along which navigation is advised.
- A Precautionary Area is an area within defined limits where ships must navigate with particular caution.
- An Area to be Avoided is an area within defined limits that is particularly hazardous and should be avoided by all ships.
- An Inshore Traffic Zone is the area between the landward boundary of a traffic separation scheme and the adjacent coast.
- An Established direction of traffic flow is the traffic pattern indicating the directional movement of traffic as established within a traffic separation scheme.
Traffic separation scheme and compulsory use
- The routeing system must be reflected on NAMRIA Chart Number 4447 (Cebu Harbor and Approaches, Luzon Datum, 1999 Corrected 2nd Edition).
- Imaginary lines consisting of a separation line, traffic lanes, and areas to be avoided are established along the Southern Approach as described in the circular’s scheme.
- The Rules of the Road apply in all respects along with the prescribed rules and regulations in the circular.
- The General Prudential Rule takes precedence over the prescribed rules and regulations.
- The established traffic separation scheme is mandatory for all vessels except motorized/fishing bancas entering and leaving Cebu Harbor.
Mandatory passage rules inside the TSS
- Vessels navigating within a traffic separation scheme must:
- Proceed within the appropriate traffic lane in the general direction of traffic flow for that lane.
- Keep as near as safe and practicable to the outer boundary of the traffic lane that lies on the vessel’s starboard side.
- Keep clear of the traffic separation zone as far as practicable.
- Join or leave a traffic lane only at the termination of the lane, and when joining or leaving from either side, do so at as small an angle to the general direction of established traffic flow as practicable.
- Vessels must avoid crossing traffic lanes as far as practicable; when obliged to cross, they must cross on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angle to the general direction of traffic flow.
- A vessel other than a crossing vessel or a vessel joining or leaving a lane must not enter the separation zone, except in cases of emergency to avoid immediate danger.
- Vessels must avoid overtaking another vessel as far as practicable.
- Vessels navigating in areas near the terminations of the TSS must do so with particular caution.
- No vessel may anchor in the TSS, near the TSS, or in areas near its termination.
- A vessel not using the TSS must avoid it by as wide a margin as practicable.
- Vessels not mandatory to navigate within the TSS must not impede the passage of a power-driven vessel following the established traffic flow of a traffic lane.
- A shipmaster/owner/operator and involved entities performing an operation for maintenance of safety of navigation or for laying, servicing, or picking up a submarine cable within the TSS may be exempted from complying with Rule 10 and the rules herein to the extent necessary to carry out the operation, but:
- The Philippine Coast Guard through its Districts/Stations/Detachments and Maritime Safety Affairs must issue appropriate Notice to Mariners; and
- No operation may be undertaken until after the issuance/dissemination of the required Notice to Mariners.
- A vessel engaged in towing and pushing must strictly comply with Rule 24 of COLREGS.
- Fishing/fishing-related activity is not allowed within the TSS.
Signal for non-compliance; emergency rules
- When a master observes another vessel not following the prescribed passage rules, the master must appropriately use “YG”, meaning you appear not to be complying with the traffic separation scheme, as provided in the International Code of Signals.
- In cases of emergency, a vessel must steer toward a safe sea and as far as possible out of the TSS.
- A vessel not under command must strictly conform to Rule 27 of COLREGS.
Route geometry and recommended courses
- The separation line is established by connecting the following geographical positions:
- Point (A): Lat 10° 16' 23" N, Long 123° 53' 19" E
- Point (B): Lat 10° 14' 12" N, Long 123° 53' 10" E
- The inbound traffic lane (width 200 meters) is established between the separation line and a line connecting:
- Point (C): Lat 10° 16' 23" N, Long 123° 53' 28" E
- Point (D): Lat 10° 14' 12" N, Long 123° 53' 19" E
- The outbound traffic lane (width 200 meters) is established between the separation line and a line connecting:
- Point (E): Lat 10° 16' 23" N, Long 123° 53' 10" E
- Point (F): Lat 10° 14' 12" N, Long 123° 53' 01" E
- Inbound traffic recommended course and timing:
- The recommended course to steer is 004° for vessels entering Cebu Harbor through the Southern Approach.
- The inbound traffic lane starts when LS Lauis Ledge bears 090°, and vessels must steer while maintaining a steady distance of 240–360 meters from LS Lauis Ledge.
- Inbound traffic terminates when LS Cauit bears 270°.
- Outbound traffic recommended course and timing:
- Outbound vessels start the outbound traffic lane when LS Cauit bears 270°.
- Outbound vessels must steer course 184° following the Provincial Capital Dome Range.
- Outbound vessels proceed until LS Lauis Ledge bears 090°.
Responsibilities, reporting, and PCG forwarding
- Ship masters/owners/operators are responsible for disseminating the rules and regulations prescribed in the circular.
- Masters/patrons are responsible for any loss of life and/or property caused by deviation or non-compliance with the circular.
- A master/patron observing vessels not following the Rules of Passage must report and submit a marine protest as soon as possible to the nearest PCG Unit or at the next port of call.
- PCG units, outside the CGD CEV, that receive the report/marine protest must immediately forward it to HPGC (Attn: CG-3/CGAC), which then forwards it to HCGD CEV and CG-8.
Dispositive action for offenses
- Coast Guard District CEV (SBMI) must investigate incidents reported/forwarded therein.
- The recommended sanctions by the investigating CEV for repeated offenses are:
- First Offense: suspension of the Master/Patron’s License for three (3) months.
- Second Offense: suspension of the Master/Patron’s License for one (1) year.
- Third Offense: revocation of the Master/Patron’s License.