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Articles

1975: Vol. LII, No. 2

Factors Relating to the Passage of Deep Draught Ships Through the Baltic Approaches

Submitted
August 7, 2015
Published
2015-07-07

Abstract

To a still increasing extent maritime authorities of coastal states all over the world are faced with a series of problems linked with the safe navigation of large and deep draught ships in their waters. In narrow and shallow fairways this is of particular importance due to the additional risk of accidents and subsequent damage to the environment. To elucidate the situation from the point of view of the physiography of the surrounding waters the conditions pertaining to the Baltic Sea area in particular are examined in some detail. The presentation takes its point of departure in a survey of the general topography of the deep water route(s) through Danish waters, followed by a statement on the various physiographic factors and their impact on shipping and the environment. Some countermeasures to the factors which limit the transit of deep draught ships through these waters are proposed and discussed. The presentation of local problems in the Baltic Approaches leads to a general proposal on the formation of an ad hoc expert group under the IHO primarily to work out procedures, standards and codes on shippingrelated oceanographic parameters.