1 Ships' routeing systems contribute to safety
of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation and/or protection
of the marine environment. Ships' routeing systems are recommended
for use by, and may be made mandatory for, all ships, certain categories
of ships or ships carrying certain cargoes, when adopted and implemented
in accordance with the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization.footnote
2 The Organization is recognized as the only international
body for developing guidelines, criteria and regulations on an international
level for ships' routeing systems. Contracting Governments shall refer
proposals for the adoption of ships' routeing systems to the Organization.
The Organization will collate and disseminate to Contracting Governments
all relevant information with regard to any adopted ships' routeing
systems.
3 The initiation of action for establishing a
ships' routeing system is the responsibility of the Government or
Governments concerned. In developing such systems for adoption by
the Organization, the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organizationfootnote shall be taken into account.
4 Ships' routeing systems should be submitted
to the Organization for adoption. However, a Government or Governments
implementing ships' routeing systems not intended to be submitted
to the Organization for adoption or which have not been adopted by
the Organization are encouraged to take into account, wherever possible,
the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization.footnote
5 Where two or more Governments have a common
interest in a particular area, they should formulate joint proposals
for the delineation and use of a routeing system therein on the basis
of an agreement between them. Upon receipt of such proposal and before
proceeding with consideration of it for adoption, the Organization
shall ensure details of the proposal are disseminated to the Governments
which have a common interest in the area, including countries in the
vicinity of the proposed ships’ routeing system.
6 Contracting Governments shall adhere to the
measures adopted by the Organization concerning ships' routeing. They
shall promulgate all information necessary for the safe and effective
use of adopted ships' routeing systems. A Government or Governments
concerned may monitor traffic in those systems. Contracting Governments
shall do everything in their power to secure the appropriate use of
ships' routeing systems adopted by the Organization.
7 A ship shall use a mandatory ships' routeing
system adopted by the Organization as required for its category or
cargo carried and in accordance with the relevant provisions in force
unless there are compelling reasons not to use a particular ships'
routeing system. Any such reason shall be recorded in the ships' log.
8 Mandatory ships' routeing systems shall be reviewed
by the Contracting Government or Governments concerned in accordance
with the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization.footnote
9 All adopted ships' routeing systems and actions
taken to enforce compliance with those systems shall be consistent
with international law, including the relevant provisions of the 1982
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
10 Nothing in this regulation nor its associated
guidelines and criteria shall prejudice the rights and duties of Governments
under international law or the legal regimes of straits used for international
navigation and archipelagic sea lanes.