A Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) refers to an area where ship navigation is strictly regulated, for safety reasons among others, in areas heavy with vessel movements. Areas that require a TSS are locations that regularly have many ships travelling in different directions. TSS is for reducing the risk of collisions by creating one way lanes for vessels.
TSS are utilised first and foremost for safety reasons, along with easing congestion and assisting with the flow of traffic. With a sound TSS in place, collisions and other such incidents within the routed locations can generally be attributed to human error or volatile weather.
One location in the Maldives with exceptionally high traffic is the area near the capital, Malé given that the main port and largest international airport are located close together within the same area. With the development of Hulhumalé, vessel traffic grew exponentially in the region and proved even more hazardous without strict routing.
To combat the rising numbers of maritime accidents, the Ministry of Transport and Communications (now, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation) established a traffic scheme for the region. This scheme has been in effect since 15th March 2011 and states that:
Vessels travelling from Malé to Hulhulé shall travel as indicated in the chart utilising the traffic lane indicated by the arrow on the chart in the northeast corner of Malé to the southernmost point in Hulhulé.
Vessels travelling from Hulhulé to Malé shall leave via the central canal of Hulhulé and proceed east of Funadhoo via the traffic lane as shown by the arrows on the chart.
Vessels travelling from Malé to Hulhumalé should travel from the west of Funadhoo to the traffic lane as indicated by the arrow on the chart.
Vessels travelling from Hulhumalé to Malé shall proceed at the exit of Hulhumalé canal near Dunidhoo and along the traffic lane indicated by arrows on the chart.
Vessels travelling from the south of Malé to Hulhulé shall enter the Hulhulé harbour via the southern canal.
Vessels travelling from the north of Malé to Hulhulé shall enter the Hulhulé harbour from the north.
Vehicles leaving the Hulhulé should leave via the central canal. The use of any other canal to leave the Hulhulé harbour is prohibited.
All vehicles travelling in the traffic separation zone must always travel along designated traffic lanes for vehicles as indicated on the charts. Additionally, anchoring at either end of the indicated traffic separation zones are strictly prohibited.
Below are the traffic separation zones:
| (1) 4⁰ 10’.75 N 73⁰ 31’.23 E (2) 4⁰ 11’.16 N 73⁰ 31’.80 E (3) 4⁰ 11’.20 N 73⁰ 31’.45 E (4) 4⁰ 10’.785N 73⁰ 31’.21 E (5) 4⁰ 10’.70 N 73⁰ 31’.30 E (6) 4⁰ 10’.92 N 73⁰ 31’.52 E (7) 4⁰ 11’.32 N 73⁰ 31’.4 E (8) 4⁰ 10’.82 N 73⁰ 31’.8 E | (9) 4⁰ 11’.0 N 73⁰ 30’.82 E (10) 4⁰ 12’.7 N 73⁰ 31’.92 E (11) 4⁰ 12’.7 N 73⁰ 31’.82 E (12) 4⁰ 11’.0 N 73⁰ 30’.76 E (13) 4⁰ 11’.0 N 73⁰ 30’.90 E (14) 4⁰ 12’.7 N 73⁰ 31’.72 E (15) 4⁰ 12’.7 N 73⁰ 31’.5 E (16) 4⁰ 11’.0 N 73⁰ 30’.68 E |
