| (1) | The master of a ship shall ensure, before the ship enters or proceeds within a vessel traffic services zone, that it has on board the latest editions of the nautical charts and publications relating to that vessel traffic services zone. |
| (2) | Except as provided by subregulations (3) and (4), no ship shall— |
| (a) | enter, leave or proceed within a vessel traffic services zone without having previously obtained a traffic clearance under regulation 5(1)(a); or |
| (b) | proceed within a vessel traffic services zone unless able to maintain direct communication with a marine traffic regulator in accordance with regulation 7. |
| (3) | Where a ship, for any reason other than the failure of shipboard radio equipment— |
| (a) | is unable to obtain a clearance required by subregulation (2)(a) by reason of inability to establish direct communication with a marine traffic regulator; or |
| (b) | after receiving a clearance, is unable to maintain direct communication with a marine traffic regulator, |
the master may nevertheless proceed on his or her route, but shall take all reasonable measures to communicate with a marine traffic regulator as soon as possible.
| (4) | Where a ship, due to the failure of shipboard radio equipment— |
| (a) | is unable to obtain a clearance required by subregulation (2)(a) by reason of inability to establish direct communication with a marine traffic regulator; or |
| (b) | after receiving a clearance, is unable to maintain direct communication with a marine traffic regulator, |
the master may nevertheless proceed on his or her route, but shall take all reasonable measures to report the occurrence to a marine traffic regulator as soon as possible, and shall proceed to the nearest reasonably safe port or anchorage on his or her route where the radio equipment can be repaired.
