Shipping Fairways, Lanes, and Zones for US waters

Various shipping zones delineate activities and regulations for marine vessel traffic. Traffic lanes define specific traffic flow, while traffic separation zones assist opposing streams of marine traffic. Precautionary areas represent areas where ships must navigate with caution, and shipping safety fairways designate where artificial structures are prohibited. Recommended Routes are predetermined routes for shipping adopted for reasons of safety. Along certain zones of the East Coast of the United States, ships are required to reduce speeds to 10 knots or less over ground during seasonal periods within designated endangered species areas, such as the North Atlantic Right Whales. Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas need special protection because of their vulnerability to damage by international maritime activities. Areas to be avoided are within defined limits where navigation is particularly hazardous or it is exceptionally important to avoid casualties and should be avoided by all ships or certain classes of ships.

To support coastal and ocean planning and other activities pursuant to the Energy Policy Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Rivers and Harbors Act and the Submerged Lands Act.

1544

Not for navigation.

None

These data are intended for coastal and ocean use planning. Not for navigation.

Shipping Lanes in U.S. waters is derived from NOAA ENC's which conforms to the International Hydrographic Organization Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data, Special Publication S-57, ENC Product Specification Edition 2.0.

Maximum scale of intended use is 1:80,000.

Shipping Lanes in U.S. waters represents current coverage of all ENC Charts. The NOAA ENC Chart Suite is not scheduled to be completed until 2015. As new NOAA ENCs and NOAA ENC editions are created they will be added to the NOAA ENC Direct to GIS data on the first of every month.

Shipping Lanes in U.S. waters data is derived from NOAA ENC's which conforms to the International Hydrographic Organization Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data, Special Publication S-57, ENC Product Specification Edition 2.0. NOAA ENC Direct to GIS data has added generalized nautical chart symbology to aid in the visualization of this data.