A traffic separation scheme (or 'TSS') is an area in the sea where navigation of ships is highly regulated. Each TSS is designed to create lanes in the water with ships in a specific lane all travelling in (roughly) the same direction.
A TSS is typically created in locations with large numbers of ship movements and vessels travelling in different directions and where there might otherwise be a high risk of collisions. Details of traffic separation schemes and similar routing-systems can be found on Admiralty charts.
In the list below, where a TSS or routing scheme is not governed by the IMO (IMO), then the governing body is mentioned in brackets.
History
Internationally agreed traffic separation schemes were first adopted by the IMCO (precursor to the IMO) in November 1973.
Atlantic Ocean: East
Europe
Approaches to Vigo (Spain) Cape Roca or Cabo da Roca Cape St. Vincent or Cabo de São Vicente Banco del Hoyo Canary Islands off Finisterre before the coast of Ouessant (in English: Ushant). around the Isles of Scilly, off the coast at Lands End Fastnet Rock, south of Ireland
Irish Sea
Off Tuskar Rock, named after the lighthouse on one of the islands forming Tuskar rock Off Smalls Holyhead Harbour, governed by Stena Line Ferries/ Off Skerries at the northern coast of Northern Ireland Liverpool Bay Approaches to Dublin, governed by the Government of Ireland In the North Channel Off Neist Point
English Channel
The English Channel connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Southern part of the North Sea and is one of the busiest shipping areas in the world with ships going in numerous direction: some are passing through in transit from the Southwest to Northeast (or vice versa) and others serving the many ports around the English Channel, including ferries crossing the Channel. In the English Channel several TSS schemes are in operation:
Dover Straits TSS
Casquets TSS near Alderney
West Hinder TSS off the Belgium coast.
Southern North-Sea
The Southern North Sea overlaps the TSS mentioned in the English Channel above
Approaches to the Humber River
Sunk and Northern approaches to the Thames Estuary
North Hinder TSS
Approaches to Hook of Holland
Russia and Norway
TSS's in these areas aren't governed by the IMO but by either the government of Russia (marked: R) or the Norwegian government (marked N)
off Mys Zimnegorskiy (R) off Ostrov Sosnovets (R) off Ostrova Ponoyskiye Ludki (R) off Tersko-Orlovskiy (R) off Svyatonosskiy Poluostrov (R) Entrance to Kol’skiy Zaliv (R) Proliv Karskiye Vorota (R) off Makkaur (N) off Cape Nordkinn (N) off Nordkapp (N) Coast of Western Norway (IMO) Coast of Southern Norway (IMO) 4 different TSS around Oslo Fjord (N) Vardø to Røst (IMO) off the Southwest coast of Iceland (IMO)
Baltic Sea
Most TSS's in the Baltic Sea are governed by the IMO, but some are the responsibility of the local country.
Sea of Åland
Seskar Island (R) Sommers Island Gogland or Hogland Island Rodsher Island Kalbådagrund Lighthouse Porkkala Lighthouse Hanko Peninsula Hiiumaa Peninsula Approaches to Stockholm, Sandhamn entrance (Sweden) Hoburgs Bank, North and South West Klintehamn South Midsjöbankarna Adlergrund Slupska Bank Öland Island Bornholmsgat North of Rügen South of Gedser Between Korsør and Sprogø Hatter Barn Skagen West Skagen East Fladen Lilla Middelgrund Entrance to the Sound In The Sound Falsterbo Kiel Lighthouse Zatoka Gdanska or Gdańsk Bay (Poland)
North Sea: Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands
In the area of the North Sea which lies North of the earlier mentioned Dover Straits several TSS's are in place to manage the traffic to and from some of the busiest ports in the world such as: Port of Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Port of Amsterdam, Antwerp etc. All of these TSS's and routing-schemes are governed by the IMO
German Bight, Western approach
Approaches to the River Elbe
Jade approach
Terschelling - German Bight
Vlieland North
Vlieland
Texel
Brown Ridge
West Friesland
East Friesland
Botney Ground
Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea
Numerous TSS's and similar routing-schemes are active in the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the waters within this area such as the Adriatic Sea. On the charts of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office some 56 schemes can be found. Many of these schemes are governed by the local state, such as Italy, Spain, Croatia etc.)