PASSAGE PLANNING
IMO recommends that all vessels navigating the Channel and Dover 
Strait should have on board the latest edition of BA Chart 5500 or 
an equivalent guide and the Netherlands Chart 1970 Mariners' 
Routeing Guide Southern North Sea.

OIL and GAS FIELDS
Production platforms and associated structures, including tanker 
moorings, storage tankers and platforms on pipelines, generally exhibit 
Mo(U) lights, aircraft obstruction lights and audible fog signals.
Unauthorized navigation is prohibited within 500m of all such 
structures, including storage tankers which can swing about their 
moorings. Tankers manoeuvring in the vicinity of platforms and 
moorings should be given a wide berth. For further information see 
The Netherlands Coast Pilot (HP1) or The Mariners' Handbook.

SUBMARINE CABLES AND PIPELINES
Mariners are advised not to anchor or trawl in the vicinity of submarine 
cables and pipelines. Pipelines are not always buried and their presence
may significantly reduce the charted depth. They may also span seabed
undulations and cause fishing gear to become irrecoverably snagged,
putting a vessel in severe danger.

TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEMES AND ROUTEING
For the latest information on individual schemes and IMO mandatory routes
for certain tankers and other vessels, see the Netherlands Coast Pilot(HP1)
or ADMIRALTY Sailing Directions.

WETREP
Tankers of more than 600 dwt carrying heavy
crude oil, heavy fuel oil or bitumen and tar and
their emulsions are required to participate in the
Western European Tanker Reporting System
(WETREP). See ADMIRALTY List of Radio Signals
for further details.

BOUNDARIES
The international boundaries shown on the chart are approximate.

PRECAUTIONARY AREAS
Vessels entering the NORTH HINDER JUNCTION, RIJNVELD, SCHOUWENBANK jUNCTION, 
MAAS CENTRE, MAAS JUNCTION and IJMUIDEN precautionary areas should navigate 
with extreme caution as vessels on route to and from TSS off Texel, 
TSS North Hinder North, IJmuiden, the Westerschelde and Europoort may be merging or crossing.

VESSEL REPORTING
For details of VTS Maas Approach, Scheldemond (VTS-SM), Den Helder and IJmuiden
Vessel Traffic Service, see the Netherlands Coast Pilot (HP1) or ADMIRALTY List
of Radio Signals.

HELICOPTER OPERATIONS
Pilot transfers by means of helicopter may be expected in the MAAS CENTRE
precautionary area, in the NORTH HINDER JUNCTION precautionary area and in
the IJmuiden Approach area. See the Netherlands Coast Pilot (HP1) or
ADMIRALTY List of Radio Signals for details.

ROUTEING
For information about recommended routes and the IMO-adopted 
Mandatory Ships' Routeing System under SOLAS regulation V/8, 
see the Netherlands Coast Pilot (HP1) or ADMIRALTY Sailing 
Directions. Also see Netherlands Chart 1970 Mariners' Routeing 
Guide Southern North Sea.
A least depth of 26m (2000) was found in the DW routes near the 
south end (around 52°N). The least depth in the (western) routeing 
system via TSS off Botney Ground was 27m (1998) and in the 
(eastern) routeing system via TSS West Friesland 23m (1995).

DEEP DRAUGHT VESSELS
For vessels drawing 20.7m (68ft) or more, on their way from 
Dover Strait NE-ward, Netherlands Authorities recommend use of a 
Selected Route. For details see Deep Draught Planning Guide. 
Greenwich Buoy to Europoort (HP8).