Maritime Area Control

Extract

Traditionally ‘Freedom of the Seas’ has meant that the ‘Master under God’ has been answerable to no one for his ship handling and manœuvring, except in the case of collision, when he has been answerable to the Courts. Congestion of certain sea areas and waterways has created situations where some restriction to this freedom has become acceptable in the interests of general safety; harbour radar procedures, the Dover Strait and other traffic separation schemes are the most well-known examples. Such areas will increase in number and size as the volume of trade increases.