At the Danish Maritime Authority, we continuously use digital tools to support our work. In connection with the new shipping routes, we utilise AIS data to assess whether a change has the intended effect.
On some sections of the new shipping routes, so-called traffic separation schemes were introduced in order to simplify navigation and help prevent ship collisions. One example is the traffic separation scheme around Skagen.
The pictures below show how the ships sailed around Skagen during the last week with the old routes and the first week with the new routes. They clearly illustrate the change that immediately occurs in the ships' sailing patterns when routes change. The distance between oncoming traffic has increased and the sailing patterns are more predictable.
Before the implementation of traffic separation scheme (24 June – 1 July, without fishing vessels)
After the implementation of traffic separation scheme (1 July – 8 July, without fishing vessels)
In the video above, you can see how the ships are sailing around Skagen after the routeing systems have become effective. The video shows how the ships sailed in the period from 6 September to 9 September 2020.
In addition to the new traffic separation schemes, two new deep-water routes for deep-draught tankers have been established as well as a new route (Route S) along the Swedish coast, which will help relieve the heavily trafficked Route T.
The new shipping routes in Skagerrak and Kattegat have been developed in a collaboration between the Danish Maritime Authority, the Danish Geodata Agency, the Swedish Transport Agency and the Swedish Maritime Administration.